The opioid epidemic is rampant in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioids contributed to 47,600 overdose deaths in 2017 — 67.8 percent of all drug overdose fatalities.
In an effort to bring awareness to the seriousness of the situation, author/educator Dennis Vanasse has recruited EPMD legend Parish Smith to discuss the dangers of opioid addiction and how Hip Hop’s profound influence can aid in the fight to end drug abuse.
Vanasse, who was Joyner Lucas’ high school teacher and remains close friends with him to this day, has been working on autobiographies for Smith, Sticky Fingaz, Wu-Tang Clan’s Cappadonna and Spliff Star.
In his spare time, he’s a college professor and special needs teacher at an elementary school.
Smith, of course, is one-half of the iconic New York duo EPMD and co-mastermind of classics such as “You Gots To Chill” and “Da Joint” alongside Erick Sermon.
As part of Addiction Awareness Month, Smith and Vanasse will continue traveling across the U.S. attempting to educate young people on the dangers of drug abuse. During a candid interview with HipHopDX, the two discuss why it’s an important topic, the power of fame and what they believe can lead to change.
HipHopDX: Why is this topic important to you on a personal level?
Dennis: Opioid addiction is ravaging communities all over the world and it needs to be spoken about. One of the things that really rings loud is there’s been a negative stigma associated to addiction throughout the years, dating back to 20, 30 years ago. What Parish and I are doing is we’re replacing that negative stigma through education and talking about it on this platform to create social awareness that can make a much more immediate and positive impact. The hope is, by reaching out to the communities and working with kids, that we can change their lives and create discussion. It’s through discussion and education that you make a difference. Every community, some more than others, is impacted by addiction.
Opioid addiction has no face. It could be absolutely anybody. There’s all different varying levels of it. It’s real. And, when you have … You know, I think we’re living in a society today where if you have a level of communication with kids and individuals, it creates a discussion and you’re going to get somewhere. When you create awareness, it leads to acceptance and educating others about social topics. And this is right now is probably one of the most important topics in the world and definitely in the United States.
HipHopDX: I agree. A year or two ago, I did an editorial addressing the prescription pill epidemic and how it’s often glorified in rap.
Dennis: I’ve also been a teacher, professor and educator for the last 25 years, and I’ve seen how addiction can ravage a community. With Hip Hop being the most influential culture, why not start here? I’ve been connected with Parish for four years. Parish and I’ve collaborated on other social issues and tasks. One of the most important ones was, we collaborated on autism a couple years ago. Parish did some events with me and he’s one of the architects of one of the most influential genres out there. He has such a strong voice and when he speaks, especially through social media, we have these vehicles to get these words out here a lot faster than we could 20, 30 years ago.
HipHopDX: Absolutely. Parish, do you have any sort of personal connection to this crisis? And, what made you want to get involved?
Parish: As an artist, you put your life into all of this work and masterpieces. But at the same time, if you have this addiction, that addiction can prevent you from actually seeing how good the work that you put out there went.
Through the music, becoming an artist, traveling and doing shows, let’s say you get in an accident or you get hurt, that can start the road to addiction. Most people who are hiding in the dark don’t realize that in the long run, what is the point of doing all of this hard work if you’re not even going to be around to see it at the end? So, this is just trying to open up a little dialogue, like look how many artists have dropped classic albums and they’re not even here.
HipHopDX: It seems like drug abuse and alcoholism kind of go hand-in-hand with the music industry. Why do you think that is? Why do you think so many artists gravitate toward that “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” lifestyle?
Parish: I don’t think it’s on purpose. I just think it’s the speed, the fast pace. Sometimes you love the music so much and you’re so wrapped into it, it’s hard letting it go. You’re not even realizing there’s levels in life. There’s levels in music. And then sometimes, you just have to know when to grow up so you can be around to see it. One of Eminem’s album covers that stick out to this day was very simple [2010’s Recovery]. He was walking up the road on the yellow line. Like, back to 12 o’clock, start over. If you can get back to the present and a healthy mind, then that’s where all the creativity lies. You owe it to yourself.
HipHopDX: Mac Miller was only 26 when he died. He didn’t even get the chance to really grow up and get to that level where it’s like, ‘OK, maybe I need to stop doing this shit and do something different with my life.’ And, that’s the biggest tragedy to me. They get in these situations and it’s too late.
Parish: Sometimes you’re not even aware. If you become more mature and you make music then you get in your rhythm. You got one album and then your fans, they want another one. So, you go back in and you want to make the fans happy. Sometimes, structure and balance is important if you want to last for the long run.
Dennis: First of all, there’s another name I want to throw in that I know a lot of the millennials love and that’s Lil Peep. But I think one of the issues sometimes and why people don’t talk about issues such as this is they have been stigmatized. I always use the word individuals when I talk about somebody that has this condition. We want to look at the individual person before we talk about it. These are individuals that may have been villainized in the past who are actually suffering from a disease.
What we need to do is through discussion and through this stigma is, we need to create a society that shows more love and more empathy. We shouldn’t be talking bad about people and we should be trying to remove this stigma. Then, I think individuals will be more willing to step out and talk about it because it’s a disease. They need treatment. They don’t need people who are looking at them in a certain way.
HipHopDX: A lot of the substance abuse does stem from mental health issues in the first place. So, a lot of these people are trying to self-medicate. Having more empathy towards people with mental health issues is paramount.
Parish: Yeah, that is the key. Because, when you take off, the next thing you know you have full access to everything; anything that you want. And me coming in, just speaking from the novice standpoint of view, being on the outside and then coming in to this fast pace, everything is fun. You know — the Hip Hop. You’re thinking it’s the norm. But once you sit down, you start to think like, “OK, there’s no way possible to make 30 countries drinking like all these 40s like this and smoking all of those trees.” It’s not going to happen. That’s where you begin to have to give and take with yourself, to know your limits.
HipHopDX: It’s got to be strange because so many artists are put on a pedestal. You have these people basically worshiping you and willing to give you whatever you want.
Parish: If you write a rhyme and you say something about weed. Then, when you say that and you go on tour, this is what your fans are thinking in basically every city. Now, you just said that on a double-platinum album and you got a 40-city tour in front of you. What do you think’s going to happen when your tour bus rolls up? Everybody got a blunt waiting for you. In the beginning, it’s fun because you think that’s what it’s supposed to be. But again, you got to know your limits.
HipHopDX: Let’s say you made that song. All of a sudden you’re 10 years in and you decide to clean up your life. Do you think it’s hard for people go back and kind of reinvent themselves in a sense?
Parish: I think it’s all about you evolving to the best that you can actually be. Then the people who’s following you, they evolve too. It’s like you don’t have to drink 12 40s. You can drink one [laughs]. You get to the point where they’re like, “Yo, would you like a Bud Light?” and you say, “Nah, I’m good.”
HipHopDX: It’s great you’re using your platform. Parish, you are using your very large platform to address something very important. Do you guys kind of hope that more people take heed and do the same thing?
Parish: There’s nothing wrong with partying. There’s nothing wrong with having fun because that’s what life is all about. You just got to know your limits.
HipHopDX: But when you get to that point where it’s no longer fun, then what?
Dennis: It’s almost like we have to adapt and change the Hip Hop lifestyle.
Parish: Artists got to remember, there’s no supervision. You’re supposed to be supervising yourself. So it ain’t like your parents are saying, “Yo, listen, don’t mess with this or don’t mess with that.” That’s supposed to be a part of your commitment to Hip Hop culture — doing the right thing. That’s one of the responsibilities.
HipHopDX: Dennis, you just hit on that. I got a shirt from stic of dead prez that says, “Healthy Gangsta Lifestyle.” It’s about changing that perception.
Dennis: We can do that by incorporating more positive lifestyle mantras and affirmation in Hip Hop. It can happen. Anybody can be an agent of change. Basically, living is the new cool.
Parish: Right. Besides, who would be doing all this work not to be here to see it? I thought the object of the game was to get old, sit in the rocking chair with the fireplace and tell war stories.
HipHopDX: And look at your platinum records on the wall.
Parish: You know?
Dennis: I just couldn’t imagine not being around to enjoy the success. You look at the Mac Millers, the Lil Peeps and Jimi Hendrix … let’s not let their life be in vain. Let’s make people aware of what their struggles were and encourage others through educating and having discussions to help people get help. There’s a lot of resources out there today, but this epidemic is growing so quick, there needs to be that much more.
HipHopDX: I don’t smoke, drink or do drugs. That’s literally the best decision I’ve ever made because I don’t think I would be here if I was on the road like I was on. I think there should be success stories out there. If we bring awareness to all of this, it could really change things.
Parish: Hip Hop is still young. It’s not old.
HipHopDX: Sugar Hill Gang just celebrated 40 years of “Rapper’s Delight.”
Parish: This particular epidemic wasn’t here back then. It’s kind of like when you used to fly on the plane and people could smoke cigarettes. But as the world grew, and the world began to evolve, you can’t smoke.
Dennis: We need to encourage people to not shame individuals who are honest about their struggles. They’re brave enough to step forward and share their struggles. Don’t shame them for their honesty. Working as an educator for years, children are impressionable. They’re very impressionable. They look at the Parish Smiths. They look at people and they’re looking for those role models. When you’re in the public eye, you are a role model. When you can be a voice of an agent of change, it speaks volumes. These positive mantras and these things, this is what children need. With an architect like Parish using his vehicle, using Hip Hop, it’s a great way to get this positive message out about something that is so stigmatized.
Parish: That’s what this is all about. It’s for the person who’s thinking there’s nobody out there and nobody cares like, “Yo, I can’t make it.” It starts with you realizing that you have to have the energy from within. My whole motto is keep it high school and you’re good money. Did you like the way you were in junior high? Did you go to junior high and elementary in that state? You got to try to get back to your original state, and you owe it to yourself to finish up so you can complete your dreams.
Dennis- Your doing great work! Keep it up buddy!!
Dennis,
You Rock! Keep working hard!
Dennis! This is amazing, so proud of you! Keep it up!
EXCELLENT INTERVIEW VERY POSITIVE. YES THIS IS HOW TO BEGIN AND HOW TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL. YOU CAN DO IT. REALLY PROUD OF THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO CONTINUE THIS PUSH TO END THE DELEMA THA FACES OUR WORLD
Way to go Den Den, so proud of the work that you are doing for the community. You are making a real difference!
Great interview! Keeping it real as always. Doing great work.
Great interview. Thanks for helping those in need. Your work is so important.
Great article, The more that people read this article the more awareuness everyone can have on this nation wide problem. Great job.
Great Article, I have worked with Dennis for over 20 years, he is and continues to be an inspiration, his compassion and dedication to the Special Education students is amazing. So happy for you Dennis.
Great article! Dennis is doing some great things to raise awareness!
Way to go! Mr. Vanasse. You’re doing amazing things. The students are proud of you.
Awesome article on such an important topic. Keep doing what you’re passionate about!!
Great article Dennis, so inspirational, thank you for all that you do.
Great Professor and Teacher, I have learned so much from him, most importantly to be a good person.
This is awesome. My bestfriend passed away last year from a heroin addiction. This shit is real. Not sure what hip hop can do but this is a good start. Keep the conversation going for the youth and the culture. Shout out to Epmd a d Professor Vanasse on this one.
Such a great cause to fight for, so many families affected by this national epidemic, thank you both for all your hard work!
YO!!!! Dope article. I just saw they arrested the guys that were involved in Mac Millers death. Shit is fucked up. Ill take conscious rap over this lean ish any day.
Shout out to Epmd. Much respect and love. The culture needs this or will have notihing left.
Im not trying to be optimistic but I dont think the new skool is going to listen. Try first, die later generation.
Think you mean pessimistic? Even if that’s what you believe, it’s still good to try…even if it affects just a couple people. It’s still worth it.
Pessimistic, my bad. I hope this will spark change but everyone has to jump on board. Shoreline Mafia, Drake, Rick Ross, T.I, Snoop. Everybody in the game has to do their part. We loosing lives out here by the daily. I want to see more hiphop artists step it up. The time is now.
Such a great article! A much needed conversation…
Amazing article!!!! Dennis is such a inspirational writer and is doing amazing things !!
This is a great article and really sheds light on this topic that many people aren’t talking about. Dennis hit the nail on the head with this one, loved it!!!
Parrish doing God’s work right now baby
Dennis you are a lifesaver, an inspiration, and a true friend! I am so grateful to know you personally – you’re like a second father to me and at times your guidance has genuinely saved my life. Thank you for all the work you are doing as you are bringing attention to a very important issue, as even though others may say they care about opiate addicts and the like wreaking havoc in our communities, they have yet to really do anything about it to make a lasting positive change for our future. YOU ARE MAKING PROGRESS FOR MY PEOPLE and for that I AM FOREVER THANKFUL. My generation needs a large dose of LOVE to drive out the hate and greed that has tarnished our heart’s over time and driven many to self-medicate out of sheer apathy and/or being extremely overwhelmed with simply the state of the World today. To me this seems to indicate that many are desperately looking for any kind of escape from the pain of daily life & as the death toll rises one can see the correlation between a cultural lack of value for addicts’ lives and an ever increasing death rate – in this way we need to spread knowledge, love, community, belonging, and peace, especially through all art forms in order to reverse the stigma – Dennis you’re a leader, and I’m forever grateful our paths have crossed. I am a survivor and I’ll never give up due to the support and love from people like you, I don’t have to hide anymore. Much love – OnE
Dennis the book is great and you are doing a great job supporting drug awareness.
Keep it up Boss! You’re saving lives – so grateful to know you, so proud.
God Bless!
Amazing work Dennis. You continue to do amazing things and put others before yourself.
We need more people like you guys to help stop the “epidemic” from spreading. Positive words, messages, actions need to replace all the negativity that surrounds so many of our young people. Kudos to you both for standing up and taking action! Keep it up…
Dennis is an amazing person and writer! It has been a pleasure to work with him for almost 20 years. He works so well with our students and can always find a way to relate with even the most challenging.
Great article! Bringing awareness is the first step to making a change!
this article really covers the epidemic that the US faces and the author really expresses his passion and dedication through this article.
Nice article.
Dennis really nails it with this piece. The opioid epidemic is a real thing and I think that it’s great that such an accomplished advocate, such as Dennis, is bringing awareness through this book!
Opioid addiction is a very real thing that affects people of all ages and types. We need to use every method possible to combat this terrible epidemic and if Hip Hop can reach people, especially youth, with a message of healthy living then we are moving in the right direction. Keep up the good work, fight the good fight!
Amazing article about your work Dennis fighting Opioid addiction.
Amazing work Dennis I’m so proud of you keep being awesome blessings to you
Improving the world one step at a time
??❤️??⭐️♾
A perfect example of a real man who truly wants to make a lasting positive impact on this world- I know together we can do this! Lets save my generation-let my people go!
Great message about a growing epidemic.
Great work Parish and Dennis.
Let’s bring communities together to fight this issue.
Opiate deaths have reached Pandemic levels – across continents nations are threatened by this largely unacknowledged killer – thank God someone is making huge strides to create a different ending to this tragic story. Never stop having faith and hope for a better future! Thank you Dennis, for everything!
Great article. Dennis is a great author and educator.
Dennis doing amazing things for the opioid epidemics!! I appreciate all your work!
EPMD always been the G.O.A.Ts’
Top five group of all-time. They came on the scene with Strictly Business and never looked back.
I couldn’t agree more with this topic and concept. As a future drug and alcohol counselor, it’s so important to me that education gets out there about this disease of addiction and the opioid epidemic. Great article and interview!
Dennis and Parish are doing amazing things. This is an important epidemic destroying communities that must be noticed.
Peace Love Unity Strength Respect
God Bless!
Great article! It’s wonderful to see people like Dennis and Parish speaking out about and raising awareness on such an important topic in today’s society!
I commend Dennis and Parrish for the added awareness to an epidemic that truly doesn’t discriminate. It’s your neighbor, the injured athlete, the adolescent who pops one pill at a party, the victim of abuse looking to alleviate mental pain. This addiction is all around us. Turning a blind eye or passing blame needs to end. Work on multiple levels need to get done. Holding big Pharmaceutical and Doctors who pass these things out like candy corn on Halloween is a must. Let’s start educating our children not just at school but in our homes. We need more guys like Dennis and Parrish working in the trenches to help alleviate the negative stigma that is often associated with this illness!
Thanks for continuing to shine the light on this issue, especially the devastating impact of shame and stigma around substance use disorders. We need ALL voices to be able to share their experience, strength, and hope in order to help those still struggling, and help prevent our youth from falling prey to this scourge of addiction. Great article, thanks Dennis for helping to bring this conversation to the air.
This just reminds us we all have a story to tell, thank you Dennis for helping to share this one
Wow , what a great interview I’m glad you are discussing this topic and I hope people are listening and understanding!
Wow I’ve never seen a post with so many positive comments! Salute!
So happy to have a teacher that cares so much !! Great work Dennis !!
It’s pretty dope seeing hip hop come together to support an epidemic tearing apart communities. Mac Miller passed, Lil Peep passed, we need to make sure that’s it. Let’s come together.
Kudos! to the dynamic duo of Dennis and Parish connecting to SO many so abroad. With this team they will change the way kids and others discuss the issue. much love and admiration all around!!!
I love the principle behind this – music can be used as a platform for spreading positive messages. Nearly everybody responds well to music, so using a hugely influential engine like Hip-Hop is great for subliminally incorporating healthy life-style decisions to the individuals who listen to this music and may be struggling with addiction or mental illness.
Like any crisis, solutions start with conversations. As a high school teacher I see no better platform than hip hop to spread a message to young folks. When their heros speak, they listen.
These artists are reaching out to millions of impressionable minds. When they educate in the fashion PMD and Dennis are doing, people will stop and listen. Props to Eminem for always speaking the truth as well.
That was an awesome article Dennis!! Very well done and said!!
Pretty dope seeing hip hop jump behind a cause that’s so important to the United States. Time for the legislators to unlock the vault and search for a solution.
Wow. What incredible awareness being brought to such an important cause. Keep up the great work ???
This is an amazing article that tackles a growing epidemic. Great work Parish and Dennis.
Amazing work seeing hip hop come together with the community to fight the battle with opioids. Incredible work Dennis and PMD.
Omg!! So proud of my professor!!
The opioid crisis, addiction, and mental illness are all topics that have been swept under the rug for far too long. It is so moving to see and read an article addressing what we can do for those battling this epidemic. Early education, communication, and treatment/support can change lives. Let’s continue the conversation! So proud of you Dennis!
Great inspiration you are, Dennis, really hit home, after losing a loved family member. We thought he was doing so well one minute, then he’s gone. If they only could climb the top of that mountain and see there’s another side, there’s faith and hope, one wants to want the help. After watching Power, black list and breaking bad, my eyes are wide open, thank you all for helping and caring, I’m joining in to help, God bless
great article it brigs awareness to this monster of an addiction.
What an awesome and inspiring article Dennis! God bless you and your talents, you are truly an amazing person. Thank you for working on making a difference to the community!
Great interview. Such an important topic that has such a negative stigma. Thank you for showing this addiction can effect anyone.
This article is lit. Love you giving props to LIL peep and Mac Miller.
way to stand behind a great cause, hip hop and author coming together strong
Keep making a difference Dennis. You are always out there advocating for others before yourself. More people in the world should emulate your passion.
I’ve known Dennis since college and can’t think of another person more perfect to be the voice for many individuals and help get the word out about addiction than him. His experience, compassion and positive demeanor along with writing style make him a great advocate and spokesperson. Living is the new cool!!!
I am so blessed to have been taught by Dennis while I attended college. In addition to knowledge in the classroom setting, Dennis has taught me to think more critically about life and the impact I can have on others. I am a survivor of a drunk driving crash, an innocent victim in someone else’s chaos. I was given a second chance in life after being a coma for several days and I strive to make the most of it in both my personal and professional lives. Through my career I see first hand how deep the impact of the opioid crisis penetrates. Good Morning delivers such an inspirational message that is relatable across generations and serves as a valuable resource to aid in one’s recovery. Thank you, Dennis.
So honored to have worked in close relation to Dennis and see firsthand his dedication to the youth of today!! He always strives to leave people better than how he first met! Many blessings on your future endeavors.