Recovering Heroin Addict Brad Blount On A Dark Time, And How He Escaped It

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/03/BradBlountWBHM.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:450;s:4:"file";s:26:"2015/03/BradBlountWBHM.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"BradBlountWBHM-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"BradBlountWBHM-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"BradBlountWBHM-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"BradBlountWBHM-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"BradBlountWBHM-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"BradBlountWBHM-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"BradBlountWBHM-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Dan Carsen
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:255824;s:14:"optimized_size";i:184129;s:7:"percent";d:28.030000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:54:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/BradBlountWBHM.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:98692;s:14:"optimized_size";i:66698;s:7:"percent";d:32.420000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/BradBlountWBHM-336x252.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:23732;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17902;s:7:"percent";d:24.57;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/BradBlountWBHM-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:48844;s:14:"optimized_size";i:35684;s:7:"percent";d:26.940000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/BradBlountWBHM-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25734;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19396;s:7:"percent";d:24.629999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/BradBlountWBHM-415x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:32906;s:14:"optimized_size";i:24872;s:7:"percent";d:24.420000000000002;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/BradBlountWBHM-353x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25916;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19577;s:7:"percent";d:24.460000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1668058113 
1425945600

90.3 WBHM Vestavia Hills– Heroin use is on the rise in Alabama. In Jefferson County alone, reported overdose deaths doubled between 2013 and 2014. And contrary to old stereotypes, the drug doesn’t respect race, class, or neighborhood boundaries. Brad Blount of Vestavia Hills is proof. He’s from a solid family in that well-heeled suburb, but in this first part of WBHM’s coverage of the issue, the 24-year-old tells reporter Dan Carsen that despite his advantages, his life took a dark turn:

 

How Alabama Power kept bills up and opposition out to become one of the most powerful utilities in the country

In one of the poorest states in America, the local utility earns massive profits producing dirty energy with almost no pushback from state regulators.

No more Elmo? APT could cut ties with PBS

The board that oversees Alabama Public Television is considering disaffiliating from PBS, ending a 55-year relationship.

Nonprofit erases millions in medical debt across Gulf South, says it’s ‘Band-Aid’ for real issue

Undue Medical Debt has paid off more than $299 million in medical debts in Alabama. Now, the nonprofit warns that the issue could soon get worse.

Roy Wood Jr. on his father, his son and his new book

Actor, comedian and writer Roy Wood Jr. is out with a new book -- "The Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir." He writes about his experience growing up in Birmingham, losing his dad as a teenager and all the lessons he learned from various father figures throughout his career.

Auburn fires coach Hugh Freeze following 12th loss in his last 15 SEC games

The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.

In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out

Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.

More Education Coverage