“Only Going to Get Worse”: Narrative Magnifications and Emotion Work among Rural Frontline Responders in the Opioid Epidemic

The study of narrative sociology can be used to understand how rural first responders magnify aspects of their collective stories about the opioid crisis to deflect emotional frustrations they experience. Based on 31 interviews with frontline responders in four rural counties in Appalachia, we find...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Symbolic interaction 2021-11, Vol.44 (4), p.748-770
Main Authors: Vaccaro, Christian, Swauger, Melissa, Niccolai, Ashley, Morrison, Shayna, Heckert, Alex, Garcia, Victor, Lauber, Erick
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
compassion fatigue
Crises
emotion work
frontline responders
Frustration
Management of crises
Narcotics
narrative analysis
Narratives
opioid crisis
Opioids
Rescue workers
Storytelling
Sympathy
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Summary:The study of narrative sociology can be used to understand how rural first responders magnify aspects of their collective stories about the opioid crisis to deflect emotional frustrations they experience. Based on 31 interviews with frontline responders in four rural counties in Appalachia, we find that responders portray themselves as capable protagonists up against hamstringing policies, opioid using clients as “their worst,” and their management of crises as a Sisyphean task. In constructing stories in this way, rural frontline responders temper frustration, and consequently sympathy, that contributes to a unique logic of care and control. This storytelling protects responders against traumas from their efforts, yet likely impedes trusting relationships with clients. A video is available at https://youtu.be/lh8OkGSEsUo.
ISSN:0195-6086
1533-8665
DOI:10.1002/symb.534