Because our target audience of African-American women suffers disproportionately from health disparities, Heart & Soul seeks creative ways to help our readers and their families deal with such problems and prevent them in the first place. Since it’s truly a matter of life or death, sometimes it’s crucial that we hit them with the hard facts straight, no chaser. But typically, we use our warm yet authoritative tone to suggest innovative lifestyle changes that last a lifetime. Our three-part addiction series is a blend of both approaches.
Unfortunately, many African Americans across socio-economic lines have an addict in their families whether they want to admit it or not. Even if the addict isn’t in their nuclear unit, the impact on the extended family reaches far and wide, spilling over into black communities. This series examines personal as well as policy issues, offering insight on the underlying causes of addiction, signs, symptoms, medical implications and complicating factors of poverty, politics and denial. We used three well-respected writers to help unravel the threads of addiction, as well as explore the impact of enablers and drug dealers.