On Thursday, September 18, the annual musical festival known as Healing Appalachia kicked off in Ashland, Kentucky. Hosted by non-profit organization Hope in the Hills, the mission of the music festival is to support communities in Appalachia by raising funds and awareness to combat opioid addiction. Various musicians performed including headlining artists Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers. In addition to musical performances, Healing Appalachia also showcased individuals and their experiences with opioid addiction, raising awareness for communities of recovery across Appalachia.
The first Healing Appalachia musical festival took place in 2018. However, Hope in the Hills was inspired by events that took place on August 15, 2016, in Huntington, West Virginia – 26 people overdosed in one day. This small city received attention from around the world and sparked action among Appalachian communities.
Tyler Childers has been a driving force of Healing Appalachia since the start. He has headlined the music festival each year that the organization has hosted it. Although Hope in the Hills did not host Healing Appalachia in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Childers and the organization made their return in 2022.
Chris Stapleton is also no stranger to supporting Appalachian communities. In 2022, Stapleton organized the Kentucky Rising benefit concert, which raised more than $2.5 million for flood relief following devastating floods in Eastern Kentucky. Childers and musician Dwight Yoakam also performed at this event. During that same year, Stapleton was spotted personally helping with flood cleanup in Knott County, Kentucky.
This year, Healing Appalachia allowed many the opportunity to share their stories with opioid addiction. In between musical performances, individuals who have witnessed or experienced opioid addiction spoke about why this cause was important, raising awareness for Appalachian communities. Furthermore, students from the University of Kentucky even distributed and trained the audience on how to use Naloxone kits to reverse an overdose.
In addition to the organization’s collaboration with musicians and members of Appalachian communities, Healing Appalachia also partners with other organizations, local businesses, healthcare providers, and community advocates to celebrate Appalachian resilience. These groups supply resources, expertise, and support to substance use recovery. Some of these partnerships include the Matthew Perry Foundation, END OVERDOSE, and Recovery Point.
Healing Appalachia has brought hope and recovery to communities across the region. To build a healthier future in Appalachia, events like Healing Appalachia inspire resilience and foster awareness of the opioid crisis.
