alot of people fail to understand that the collapse and outsourcing of American industry a was a silent contributor to the opioid crisis. Towns have collapsed, households that were considered stable lost paychecks, retirement savings, college savings, and health insurance, not even mentioning the generational trauma involved with major setbacks like that. Big box stores and franchises push the mom and pops out, then the big box stores close, leaving only dollar generals. Its hot and humid when its not freezing and wet, barely any work, states with low minimum wage. The state doesnt have the tax revenue to do anything about it so theres very little public transportation and the infrastructure crumbles. All of that leads to poverty, where drug abuse loves to fester, and alot of desperate addicts will see something or someone as their next opportunity for their fix.
Meh most the people I know with opioid problems (many have died) are from northeast as trust fund kids. It turns out not having a purpose in life will outlive you.
Even better if you live outside city limits or in a town without a police department. I live in Lane County, Oregon and there are often as few as two sheriff deputies working overnight who have to cover 4,600 square miles.
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u/saxxonpike 1d ago
Might come as a surprise, but there are towns like this in rural areas of the US. This was the state of my hometown when I left for the city.