NPR
•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
Source diversity
7
Affiliate links
no affiliate links