The adjectives that describe the people of the Appalachian Mountains are as diverse as the citizens themselves. Often criticized for being awkward and backward, these people’s isolation spans a long range of history. The roots of these people appear to lie in the mountains and moors of Scotland. In their early civilization, they were repeatedly invaded by the English, but they stood firmly and refused to bow to foreign authority. These conflicts with the English would continue for centuries. King James I devised a plan to alleviate these tensions by giving the Scots farmland in Northern Ireland. This plan would pit them against troublemakers of the British, the Irish.¹
The fighting continued for centuries, and
these tortured people became known as Scots
Irish. Eventually, they made the decision to
immigrate to the New World. Between the years
of 1720-1725, this mixed culture moved into the
regions of Pennsylvania and Delaware. The
reception at their arrival of the New World was
not a pleasant one. The English, German, and
Dutch inhabitants saw these new people as rowdy,
uncivilized mobs. Once again shunned, these
people headed for the back country, and the
Western Expansion gave them the space they
longed for, and they brought few possessions
with them.¹
One of these possessions, however,
would prove invaluable – distilling equipment.
The Scots Irish people referred to the distilled
liquid as “Water of Life.” Not only did it
provide a high, it had medicinal as well as
monetary worth. As the Mountain People forged
westward, they were met with more challenges.
Now, they had to deal with the Cherokee and
Iroquois tribes who were already occupying these
regions. Upon becoming experts at fighting the
tribes and developing methods and tactics of war
against the Native Americans, the Scots-Irish
people finally claimed the land that they had so
desired. Four years before the Declaration of
Independence was signed, these people declared
themselves free from British rule with the
Watauga Association.¹
Over 900 Mountain Men challenged
Major Patrick Ferguson in his battle at Kings
Mountain, North Carolina. Ferguson had stated
God could not move him from his mountain.
Unfortunately, after only one hour, 150 of
Ferguson’s men were dead, including himself, and
800 of his men were captured by the Mountain
Men. Major Ferguson was killed by Robert Young,
and his body was laid to rest at King’s Mountain
to validate his statement that he would never
leave his mountain.¹
After the Revolutionary War, there
was a significant amount of debt, so as a
recovery effort, Treasure Secretary, Alexander
Hamilton, issued a tax on whiskey to counter the
debt. This government involvement in something
the mountain people felt they had no business
becoming involved in scarred the relationship
between the government and mountain people.¹
Prior to the Civil War, the main income
of the people of the back woods was from whiskey.
Corn was grown and sold in the market, but the
process of distilling was even more profitable. As
much as 90,000 gallons could be produced in one day,
but more problems were on their way. In 1862, the
government became involved once again. This time,
they placed a heavy tax on the distillers, and armed
government employees were sent in to take down the
moonshiners as they became known. These people once
again fled for the safety of the mountains and
continued to make moonshine undercover. The
consistent battles and flights for safety marked
these people as stubborn and independent.¹
In the 1960s, marijuana began to be
a cash crop for the mountain people somewhat
replacing moonshine. The climate and soil
conditions are ideal for the growth of this
prohibited drug. The state of Kentucky seems to
be a prime supplier of marijuana in the U.S.
Presently, methamphetamine
production and addiction threatens the citizens
of Appalachia. Considering its ease in
manufacturing, many former marijuana growers
have transferred their efforts to this
dangerously illicit drug. Through fear of authority and
resistance of many laws that the people of the
Appalachians staunchly disagreed with, these
people learned to become self-reliant. These
habits have set the people of the mountains
apart from the remainder of the society
throughout history. The living arrangements of
many of these individuals are substandard at
best considering: 70% live at or below the
poverty level; 40% live without running water;
and 20% have no vehicle.
The values of these people are
deeply rooted, and they provide a meaning to the
life that seems so odd to those who observe this
culture. Family is a major component of the
Appalachian Mountain lifestyle. These people
tend to be very clannish and are often willing
to go to great lengths to protect themselves and
their kin. Neighbors are also often regarded as
family. The views of the Appalachian people
toward the future are generally fatalistic, and
there seems to be a common preference to
confrontation over dialogue. As previously
stated, the people of the Appalachians are
likely to be distrusting of outsiders and
authority and their deep-rooted values do not
mesh well in the urban environment.
With the prevalence of coal mining
in this area of the country, prescription drugs
are often dispensed by doctors who visit the
coal mining camps to provide drugs just to keep
the employees working when they are medically
unable. Due to injuries, dangerous conditions,
and many hours crouched in tiny spaces in the
mines, miners often resort to alcohol and pain
killers to alleviate the pain. Many of these
prescription drugs are so freely distributed
that patients reach the point where they begin
to self-medicate, thus the abuse begins. As
previously mentioned, the hospitality between
families and neighbors of the Appalachian people
is a cherished value, and due to this, drugs are
often freely shared in this culture.
Medically speaking, the lifestyles
of the Appalachian people can be harmful to
their health, and due to their issues with
trust, these people are not likely to seek
medical assistance if it can be avoided. The
mountain people tend to have a profound fear of
doctors, hospitals, and medical personnel in
general. Ironically, however, more and more of
these people have become addicted to
prescription drugs such as Oxycontin and
Percocet. The eastern portion of Kentucky ranks
highest nationwide in Oxycontin abuse. This
abuse can also be connected to a rise in crime
in this area, such as: robbery, theft, assault,
and prescription fraud. Oxycontin related
deaths are also on the rise in Kentucky It has
been reported that due to lifestyle choices and
the addictions to drugs and alcohol by the
Appalachian people, death rates in general that
are four times that of the rest of the country.
There are a host of obstacles in
treatment for the individuals of the Appalachian
region. One of the main issues is the lack of
health insurance. Fear and distrust of the outsider
and authority make it difficult for many people of
this region to seek medical assistance. These
citizens forged a home deep in the mountains to be
protected and safe, and this isolation coupled with
their lack of transportation are often barriers in
their seeking medical attention. ¹ History Channel (2007). Hillbilly: The Real
Story [DVD].