Behind The Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 23, 2025) – This week’s episode of Behind the Blue features an episode of the Talking FACS podcast. Hosted by Mindy McCulley of the UK Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Program, Talking FACS is a production of the UK College of Agriculture, Food & Environment. On this special guest episode, Dr. Alex Elswick, Extension Specialist for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, discusses a critical and timely issue—the alarming rise of stimulant use alongside the ongoing opioid crisis, a phenomenon some experts refer to as a "twin epidemic." In this interview, Dr. Elswick unpacks startling data: stimulant use, particularly methamphetamine and cocaine, has spiked dramatically across the nation and here in Kentucky, becoming a major contributor to overdose fatalities alongside opioids. This conversation sheds light on evolving drug use patterns, including the shift from injection to smoking, and explores the social perceptions and challenges surrounding treatment for stimulant addi