hillbilly heroin
Rural opioid crisis
Hillbilly heroin is a slang term for OxyContin and other prescription opioid painkillers, referencing their widespread abuse in rural Appalachian communities beginning in the 1990s.
The term combines the stereotype of poor white rural Americans with the drug's heroin-like effects and addictive properties.
The documentary explored how hillbilly heroin devastated small mining towns.
The phrase is considered disparaging toward the communities it references.
Branded slow-release opioid analgesic
- opioidMorphine-class analgesic
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- dependenceState of needing another
prescription · abuse · painkillers · tolerance · craving · relapse · detox · rehabilitation
Eastern U.S. mountain region
- povertySevere lack of resources
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
- backwoodsRemote, undeveloped rural area
hollers · trailer park · small-town · rust belt · factory closures · mining towns · pill mills · doctor shopping
Branded slow-release opioid analgesic
- Purdue PharmaOpioid-making drug company
- SacklerPharmaceutical dynasty behind OxyContin
- opioid crisisMass addiction emergency
- pharmaceuticalManufactured medicinal compound
overprescription · pill mills · fentanyl · hydrocodone · Percocet · Vicodin · controlled substance · DEA
OxyContin
Branded slow-release opioid analgesic
- opioidMorphine-class analgesic
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
- withdrawalAct of taking away
dependence · prescription · abuse · painkillers · tolerance · craving · relapse · detox · rehabilitation · methadone
Appalachia
Eastern U.S. mountain region
- povertySevere lack of resources
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
backwoods · hollers · trailer park · small-town · rust belt · factory closures · mining towns · pill mills · doctor shopping · pain clinics
OxyContin
Branded slow-release opioid analgesic
- Purdue PharmaOpioid-making drug company
- SacklerPharmaceutical dynasty behind OxyContin
- opioid crisisMass addiction emergency
pharmaceutical · overprescription · pill mills · fentanyl · hydrocodone · Percocet · Vicodin · controlled substance · DEA · regulation
hillbilly heroinsobriety
Unimpaired mental state
clean · sober · drug-free · straight · abstinence
hillbilly heroinmethamphetamine
Addictive synthetic stimulant drug
crystal meth · crank · speed · uppers · stimulants
hill, hills, hilly, hilliness, hillside, billy, billies, hero, heroes