The 21st Show

Religion Scholar Marie Griffith; Finding The Right Drug Addiction Treatment; Rita Crundwell Film

Niala Boodhoo, Libby Foster and Alan Montecillo
 

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On this encore edition of The 21st: With more people in the U.S. in need of effective and affordable drug addiction treatment, what are the most important things you should know when looking for a provider? Plus, we talk to director Kelly Richmond Pope about her new film highlighting a famous embezzlement case in Dixon, Illinois. But first, religion scholar Marie Griffith joins us to talk about her new book- Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics.

In 1969, a survey of Texas Baptists revealed that 90 percent “felt their state’s abortion law should be loosened.”

So when did these beliefs - about abortion in particular - become such a divisive issue in American life and politics?

That’s the topic of a new book by Marie Griffith. She’s the director of the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. And the book is called: Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics. It’s an exploration of gender roles, sexual identity and how that has played out in our politics, as well.

We had a chance to catch up with Marie last month when she was in Central Illinois giving a lecture at University of Illinois.

Plus- 

The number of Americans who have died from drug overdoses is on the rise. In 2016 that number was 64,000 - that’s 22 percent more than the year before, according to the New York Times.

And as you’ve probably heard about by now, opioids are a big reason that number of total drug overdose is growing. Here in Illinois, nearly 1,900 people died from opioid overdoses.

We’ve talked about the opioid crisis on the 21st before - and today, we wanted revisit a simple question: what makes for good addiction treatment? If you’re trying to find effective and affordable treatment, whether it’s for yourself or for a loved one, what should you look for? And should you be careful about getting scammed in this whole process?

Sara Howe is CEO of the Illinois Behavioral Health Association. And Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar is the Medical director of behavioral health for Chicago’s Department of Public Health. We spoke with both of them back in January.

And- 

When it comes to corruption, we know that Illinois is unfortunately known for this particular time of crime  - especially when it comes to government.

For more than 20 years, former Dixon, Illinois comptroller Rita Crundwell embezzled almost 54 million dollars.

She lived lavishly, throwing parties, investing in horses, all while the town of Dixon struggled to make ends meet financially. In 2012 when Crundwell’s actions came to light, she pleaded guilty and was sentenced to almost 20 years in prison.

A Kartemquin film called All The Queen’s Horses explores the Rita Crundwell story and the lasting effects it has had on the town of Dixon. We caught up with the film’s director back in November when the film was first released. Back in November, Sue Stephens from WNIJ, also joined us. She reported on the Rita Crundwell case back when it was happening.

For those of you in the Champaign Urbana area, All the Queens Horses will be playing at The Champaign Art Theatre tonight at 7:30pm.

Story source: WILL