What Are Two Social Problems That Are Commonly Associated With The Appalachian Region?

Two social problems that are commonly associated with the Appalachian region are the unemployment secondary to the downfall of the coal industry and the ongoing substance abuse.
The first problem commonly associated with the Appalachian region is the unemployment secondary to the downfall of the coal industry. A lot of families in the Appalachian region come from a long generation of coal miners. Sons followed in the footsteps of their dads and grandfathers straight out of high school, which is another reason why the unemployment rate is so high where coal mining is such a predominant occupation. These men being laid off have nothing higher than a middle or high school education because they went straight to working in the mines after school
One factor that contributes to substance abuse is a genetic predisposition to drugs such as heroin and meth. Genetic vulnerability plays a big factor in homes of substance abusers. If drugs are present in the home, children will automatically assume that because their parents are avid substance abusers, it is acceptable for them to be as well. The environment that a person is raised in plays a huge role in what they are being exposed to. If a child is raised in an environment where drugs and alcohol are always being consumed, they are more susceptible to follow in the footsteps of the other substance abusers in the home. Although even when drugs and alcohol aren’t present in the home, peer pressure is a common issue among teenagers in today’s society. They could be taught at home that drugs and alcohol are not acceptable but when pressured by a classmate or friend, it could affect the choice being made by that individual. Another factor that contributes to substance abuse is mental health issues like depression. Depression is serious issue among today’s society. Any number of things can lead to depression. Losing a loved one, going through a break up, or for some people it could just be seasonal depression. Because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, it triggers feelings such as sadness. People with mental health issues such as depression frequently rely on alcohol or another type of drug to solve their issues. One-way communities have been taking action and addressing this problem is different organizations have been implementing needle exchange programs. People of the Appalachian region are educating themselves on ways to help substance abusers and that’s exactly what they did when they started the needle exchange program. By implementing these programs, you are reducing risk of contamination, while also providing a safe and clean way to