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Poetry Anthology to Raise Awareness of Opioid Crisis in Ohio

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Anyone following the news in recent months knows that Ohio, and the nation as a whole, is facing a severe crisis of citizens succumbing to opioid addiction. OPA was contacted recently by faculty at Ohio University to help raise awareness of the impacts of this epidemic. Specifically, a new anthology is being compiled to spread the word about this crisis. The new collection will feature poems, stories, non-fiction essays, and artwork. Currently, the editors are interested especially in receiving poems and non-fiction. The call for submission details are below.


CALL FOR CONTRIBUTORS: BOOK PROJECT ON OHIO’S OPIOID CRISIS

Since the arrival of a full-blown epidemic in the abuse and addiction of opioids in the United States, Ohio has consistently ranked at the top of the list for overdoses and deaths. As a result of this epidemic the lives of many Ohioans have been significantly impacted in various ways. Policymakers and a wide range of professionals have attempted to devise responses, but opioid use and overdose deaths continue to rise.

HAVE YOU OR SOMEBODY YOU KNOW BEEN AFFECTED BY THE OPIOID CRISIS? DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR STORY TO TELL OR PERSPECTIVE TO SHARE?

In an attempt to give a voice to this crisis and provide an in depth look into the opioid epidemic in Ohio, we are compiling a collection of first-person accounts, to be published in 2018 by The Ohio State University Press, under its Trillium imprint. We are seeking a wide range of perspectives to illustrate the impact, severity and scope of how this issue has affected the people and communities of Ohio. Contributions may include: real-life stories in narrative form, fictional short-stories based on real-life events, photographs and other visual media, and poems. If you have an idea for an alternative format or medium, run it by us. If you would rather participate in an interview rather than contribute something on your own, we are happy to arrange for the conversation to be published in an edited form. Your name or other personal information will not be shared unless you prefer that it be.

The editors are seeking contributions from all regions within Ohio, and seek to capture a wide range of perspectives. Examples of contributors could include, but are not limited to:

Recovering Opioid Addicts and Current Opioid Users
Family and Friends of Addicts or Recovering Addicts
Educators and Coaches
Medical Professionals
Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders
Government Officials
Addiction Specialists
Residents of Opioid-Affected Communities
Representatives of Nonprofit Agencies
Community leaders and members of faith-based organizations
Other individuals impacted by opioid use/overdose

The editors aim to curate a diverse selection of contributors. Submissions from underrepresented minorities are especially welcome. All professional backgrounds and levels of education are welcome.

Any proceeds from the collection will be donated to a charity involved in addressing the opioid epidemic within the state of Ohio. Contributors must be over 18 years of age and residents of
the state of Ohio.

This collection is being edited by three faculty members at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine:

Dr. Daniel Skinner, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Health Policy
Dr. Jane Balbo, DO, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Dr. Berkeley Franz, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Community-Based Health

The project is being managed by Kacy Gaddis, M.Ed, Curriculum Coordinator at the Heritage College, in Dublin.

If you believe that your story can have an impact, and are willing to share it, please send the following information, with the subject line “Opioid Collection,” to Dr. Skinner at skinnerd@ohio.edu.

Your Name
Brief description of your perspective, or the story you wish to tell
Your town or region
Proposed medium (narrative, poem, visual art, interview, etc.)
Proposed length, if known
Contact information
Preference regarding authorship/anonymity

Potential contributors can expect to hear back within a week of proposal submission. Proposals invited for submission will receive direction from the editors regarding length and scope.

Please send proposals no later than May 1, 2018. Early proposals appreciated. Actual submissions must be submitted by June 1, 2018.

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