Severe flooding raises deadly overdose risk in rural Appalachia, study finds – and the harm lasts for years

Disasters weaken support systems that take years to rebuild, at the same time people caught in them are under extraordinary financial and psychological stress.

By: Kristina P. Brant, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 18, 2026

Words: 1,336

Last Updated: 5 hours, 19 minutes ago

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By Kristina P. Brant, Penn State

When she went to sleep on July 27, 2022, McKayla wasn’t worried about the storm that was raging outside her trailer in southeastern Kentucky. Intense storms came frequently in summer. While the creek in front of her home would often rise, water never came close enough to be a concern.

But at 6:30 the next morning, one of her children rushed into her room panicked. McKayla ran to the …

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