Portsmouth, Ohio, once wore the grim label “Opioid Crisis Capital of America.” But in the heart of this struggling city, the Portsmouth Kettlebell Club offers more than fitness – it offers hope, purpose, and proof that community effort can fuel real recovery.
An Ohio Kettlebell Club Challenges the Cycle of Addiction: Just 100 miles east of Cincinnati, Portsmouth sits alongside the Ohio River. At the turn of the century, it suffered greatly from the opioid crisis. Local businesses shuttered, crime rates spiked, and despair took hold. Dale King, a native of Portsmouth, returned from active duty in Iraq only to find a scarred community. “No one is coming to save us,” King says. His solution? Teach strength. Both physical and mental.
Building Strength, One Rep at a Time: King discovered CrossFit in 2007, drawn by its ability to provide both psychological and physical gains. By 2010, he opened the Portsmouth Spartan Kettlebell Club in a downtown warehouse, offering $5 workouts. But the PSKC is far more than just another Ohio kettlebell club.
At PSKC, King’s team has created the “Portsmouth Method” – a blend of CrossFit, behavioural therapy, and nutritional guidance. “The most important part of recovery is effort, and we train that,” King explains.
Partner and team workouts are at the core of their approach, cultivating teamwork, accountability, and communication. These life skills, developed in the gym, help club members stay resilient in their personal battles.
Portsmouth Kettlebell Club at the Heart of Community Change: King’s club welcomes people from all backgrounds, including many rebuilding their lives. He’s hired former addicts as staff, and works with local counselling facilities and prisons to make exercise central to rehabilitation.
The ripple effect of the gym has been powerful, sparking new business in what was a deserted city centre. “To see the domino effect has been awesome. In a town devastated by weakness, we chose strength,” says King.
Today, Portsmouth Kettlebell Club has 120 devoted members. Many, like the group that calls itself the “Nasty Nooners,” turn up regardless of the weather or holiday. (for complete story WRD News)