Crisis in the C-Store

Field Report: In the last few years, convenience stores have become convenient not only for travelers, but also for victims of the opioid crisis. C-stores’ public bathrooms and 24/7 hours of operation provide just enough privacy for drug use. One convenience-store owner in Sheboygan, Wis., estimated that he lost more than 100 regulars to drug addiction. Other retailers worried about the well-being of their employees, who would find people overdosed in the bathroom, get poked by stray needles in the trash or even battle opioid addiction themselves. In areas hit hardest by the crisis, c-stores were scrambling to protect their businesses, team members and patrons. After more than 20 years covering the convenience-stores, CSP magazine has gained the trust and access of retailers. However, convincing operators to speak on the record about the issue was one of the biggest challenges of my career thus far. The industry has worked tirelessly to shed its shady reputation, and the opioid crisis spilling into stores was an inconvenient truth. Eventually, a brave few retailers broke their silence, starting a dialogue that has lead to best practices and talks of legal action against major pharmaceutical companies. I thank them for sharing their story and their efforts to build safer, healthier communities. Read the story here.