Substance Abuse, A $1.8 Billion WV Problem

Substance abuse is arguably the most pervasive problem facing West Virginia and the nation. In West Virginia, substance abuse problems cost us more than $ 1.8 billion in direct and indirect costs in 2006 alone. Addressing substance abuse is therefore a crucial issue for West Virginia and its communities.

According to our governor, Joe Manchin, "West Virginia is a wonderful place to live and work". "Unfortunately, we are not immune from the problem of substance abuse. We are experiencing alarming trends in prescription drug abuse, the use of illicit substances, and under-age drinking and tobacco use. These problems affect us all and stand as a barrier to our state reaching its full potential, rob us of our financial capital, and leave behind a wake of human suffering and personal tragedy".

More than $ 116 million each year consumes West Virginia's health care system budget addressing drug and alcohol related diseases. Substance abuse consumes more than $330 million of WV's criminal justice system involving drug and alcohol related offenses.

Our state's prison overpopulation will require us to build a new prison at over $200 million to house more persons convicted of crimes relating to substance abuse. More prisons will need to be built in the future if something isn't done. we can choose to either become "smart on crime" through addressing the social problems of substance abuse or we can continue with the old way of "tough on crime" and lock more people up without dealing with the underlying problems of abuse and addiction.

West Virginia spends $6 million each year on drug and alcohol rehabilitation to solve a $1.8 billion substance abuse problem. We've definitely got to do a better job and provide more resources through "tried and true" efforts of addressing substance abuse. Our state and its children should expect nothing less. We can't afford any longer to treat only the symptoms of substance abuse, but we must treat the "disease" of abuse and addiction.

Learn more at:

West Virginia Prevention Resource Center
100 Angus E. Peyton Drive
South Charleston, WV 25303
Phone 304.766.6301

http://www.prevnet.org/

Fayette County Substance Abuse Task Force

A year-long planning effort has been undertaken calling on the resources and creativity of a broad cross-section of county and community leaders throughout Fayette County. Against the backdrop of some of West Virginia's beautiful parks and wildlife areas and the New River Gorge National Park is a serious and complex problem..drug abuse.

* In Fayette and Raleigh Counties, the Department of Health and Human Resources reports that substance abuse by a parent was in 2005-2006, a factor 30% of the time when a child was removed from the home. Today, the Fayette County DHHR, Child Protective Services reports substance abuse is the cause 99% of the time

* According to the Women's Resource Center serving Fayette County, 85% of reported domestic violence incidents involve substance abuse of some kind.

* Businesses report it is often difficult finding employees who can successfully pass a drug screening before they are hired.

* Companies want to locate in areas where their workers can feel safe and enjoy a sense of well-being. Many in Fayette County are concerned that drug abuse could stand in the way of attracting more jobs in the area.

These are not criticisms of Fayette County, but a critique which identifies a problem. The Fayette County Substance Abuse Task Force has taken the challenge of addressing substance abuse through a county-wide forum in hopes of answering the following?

* How can we promote healthy living?

* How can we provide treatment and support recovery?

* How can we support enforcement of laws and regulations?

The forum has been the beginning of this important conversation. They hope it leads to further discusssions involving wider circles of people who care about the issue and are willing to work together. They are leaders in the State of West Virginia as they address a problem that is in every single town, hollow, county, school, and segment of our society.

You can get further information and you can become involved by contacting:

Fayette County Family Resource Network
Aletha Stolar, Director
P.O. Box 307
Fayetteville,WV 25840-0307
Phone: 304-574-4338

Email: fayettefrn@gmail.com

http://www.fayettefrn.com/