Singer tells story of West Virginia’s opioid crisis through latest song

BECKLEY, W. Va. –– “Hear the rattle in the holler, that ain’t no snake. That’s a white coat man with some pills to take.”

Marcus Oglesby, lead singer of the band Creek Don’t Rise, penned these lyrics in his original song, “White Coat Man” — an anthem of the prescription drug epidemic in southern West Virginia.

Nationwide, opioid overdose has quadrupled since 1999, according to the CDC. West Virginia is the state with the highest number of overdose deaths and has been called “ground zero” for the country’s opioid epidemic. Some counties have gone as far as to sue the drug distribution companies that brought opioids into the state.

West Virginia saw 818 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the West Virginia Health Statistic Center. At least 703 of those involved one or more opiate.  In 2001, only 212 overdose deaths were reported in the state and the number consistently increased every year since, according to the West Virginia Health Statistic Center. 

The crisis had been at the back of Oglesby’s mind for some time. He had heard multiple news stories. He had a friend who lost everything because of addiction.

It was brought to the forefront once more when he heard a report on television comparing the dark overcoat of a drug dealer to the white lab coat of a pharmacist.

With the phrase “White Coat Man” in his head, he sat down and words spilled from his pen. It was completely written in 15 minutes.

Oglesby was born and raised in southern West Virginia, just outside of Beckley. Many men in his family earned their living in the coal mines.

His Appalachian influence is evident in the song, as he references mining and its dangers, “You had a good job there in them hills, then you got hurt and there came the pills.”

Many people point to mining injuries as the root of the prescription pill epidemic in West Virginia.

“White Coat Man” goes on to describe the toll addiction can take on a family, and how too often pills lead to heroin — “When the pills run out you know the needle calls.”

Oglesby posted the song Feb. 13 on the band’s Facebook page. It has 21,000 views and nearly 500 shares. Dozens have shared their reaction to the powerful lyrics. Some have even shared their personal stories of addiction.

“People are pouring their hearts out on there,” Oglesby said.

But the reactions he’s seen after performing the song live have been nothing short of heartbreaking. People have shared their stories. They’ve shown him their track marks from injecting opioids.

“When you can see the pain and tears and the physical evidence that they have really been through the gutter, it’s heart-wrenching. But at the same time, it’s so rewarding as a songwriter to move people. It’s a balancing act of emotion.”

Holdren writes for the Beckley, West Virginia Register-Herald.