An illustration of pills underground. Plants are sprouting out of the pills.

The Fifty One

The Link Between the Opioid Epidemic and Food Insecurity


The exploding opioid crisis, particularly across the Midwest, is reshaping families, leaving many without the resources to feed themselves. When grocery stores are sparse, it only gets worse.



This article was made possible because of the generous support of DAME members.  We urgently need your help to keep publishing. Will you contribute just $5 a month to support our journalism?

What happens when the last grocery store leaves town? Residents of the West Dayton neighborhood in Dayton, Ohio are discovering the answer this year after losing their last full-service grocery store in April. While some residents can drive to suburban stores nearby, for those without a car, or money to fill the tank, corner stores and fast food joints have become the only options. Food pantries have stepped up to fill the gap, along with Gem City Market, a proposed new co-op that’s in the midst of raising enough money to build its store. A growing demographic in the food pantries illustrates another persistent issue in the city: as the opioid epidemic continues, more and more grandparents are raising orphaned grandkids and struggling to feed them. Reporter Libby Cunningham brings us this story from Dayton on the latest episode of The Fifty One:

The Fifty One is presented by DAME and produced and distributed by Critical Frequency. In our first season, we worked with local reporters across the country to explore food access in their communities. You can subscribe and listen to the full season on all platforms including Sticher, apple, Google Play.

Before you go, we hope you’ll consider supporting DAME’s journalism.

Today, just tiny number of corporations and billionaire owners are in control the news we watch and read. That influence shapes our culture and our understanding of the world. But at DAME, we serve as a counterbalance by doing things differently. We’re reader funded, which means our only agenda is to serve our readers. No both sides, no false equivalencies, no billionaire interests. Just our mission to publish the information and reporting that help you navigate the most complex issues we face.

But to keep publishing, stay independent and paywall free for all, we urgently need more support. During our Spring Membership drive, we hope you’ll join the community helping to build a more equitable media landscape with a monthly membership of just $5.00 per month or one-time gift in any amount.

Support Dame Today

SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MEDIA
Become a member!