For too many people — in the United States and beyond — opioid dependence is a devastating fact of life.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate that 16 million people worldwide and more than 2.1 million people in the United States struggle with opioid use disorder, and a 2023 NIH study reveals that only about one in five adults struggling received medication to treat it in 2021.
That grim statistic means that many of those battling opioid dependence and addiction are suffering alone. And, with the opioid epidemic especially concentrated in the rural South and Appalachia, it’s no surprise that several country stars have written songs touching on this issue.
For many, the opioid epidemic is personal. Not only has Jelly Roll seen the ravages of opioid epidemic within his family and personal circle, but he has once a drug dealer himself. In early 2024, the singer addressed lawmakers on his personal experience with the opioid epidemic, urging them to pass new measure combatting fentanyl trafficking.
Singers including Elvie Shane and Whey Jennings have also written songs that draw from their personal experiences of fighting and overcoming addiction, offering hope for anyone struggling with substance dependence.
Even more — including Brad Paisley and Brandy Clark — have felt compelled to speak to an issue endemic to their home regions, using their storytelling powers to shine a light on this important issue.
Read on to see Taste of Country’s roundup of songs about the opioid epidemic, and the powerful personal stories that informed them.
10 Country Stars Who’ve Written Songs About Opioids
The opioid crisis has ravaged lives across the United States — and beyond — so it’s no surprise that there are several country stars who’ve been affected by the issue.
Some of the hardest-hit areas include Appalachian regions like West Virginia and Kentucky. Several singers on this list hail from those areas, and they’ve seen first-hand how opioid addiction has impacted their home communities.
But addiction can touch anyone, in any walk of life. The far-reaching impact of the opioid epidemic is reflected in these songs, which speak from the perspectives of all kinds of people, in all kinds of situations.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak