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Opioids are devastating Cherokee families. The tribe has a $100 million plan to heal

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Summary
Nutrition label

79% Informative

Mazzy, 9, and Ransom, 6, were adopted by Gary and Cassie Walker after their biological parents got caught up in the opioid epidemic.

The Walkers have adopted or fostered nine Cherokee kids during the drug crisis.

Fentanyl is now a leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 40.

The Cherokee Nation's Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin says the crisis threatens efforts to strengthen his people's way of life.

Data released as part of opioid lawsuits show Native American towns like Tahlequah were swamped with prescription opioids starting in the late 1990s.

Public health experts say it's not surprising Native American families have been so vulnerable to addiction.

Deaths among middle-age Native Americans rose at three times the rate of white Americans from 1999-2013.

Cherokee leaders unveiled the first major project, an in-patient addiction recovery center planned for Tahlequah.

Over the next five years, the tribe plans to roll out a total of $75 million in new treatment facilities.

Some tribal members hope the Cherokee Nation will emerge as a national model for helping people suffering addiction.

VR Score

81

Informative language

78

Neutral language

66

Article tone

semi-formal

Language

English

Language complexity

34

Offensive language

likely offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

short-lived

External references

18

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