×

W.Va. epidemic needs attention

Only time will tell how effective some initiatives against drug abuse are in West Virginia.

Many victims of the opioid epidemic have no time to wait for solutions, however. Our state has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the United States, by far.

Six hundred twenty-seven Mountain State lives were claimed by drug overdoses in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is the most recent year for which CDC statistics are available.

On Monday, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin revealed statistics from some still relatively new state initiatives against drug abuse.

One is the state’s toll-free phone line for people seeking help with drug-related problems. It has received more than 7,500 calls, around 20 per day, since it was established a year ago.

Another campaign, by a state advisory group on substance abuse, has held 20 community meetings throughout the state, Tomblin said.

The governor also discussed plans for $1.3 million received by Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s office from settlements of a lawsuit against prescription drug distributors. The money will be used for programs to treat substance abusers.

It all sounds good, but — and we mean this as no reflection on efforts by state officials — it amounts to little more than trying to fight a forest fire with a squirt gun.

West Virginia simply does not have the resources to battle a disaster more deadly than any our state has faced in recent memory. Yet to a great extent, we are being left to wage the war on our own.

With the exception of U.S. attorney’s offices and federal law enforcement agencies, Washington has given us very little help. Yet the number of victims of the drug epidemic here tops that of all the past year’s hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and wildfires in the entire country put together.

Federal officials send billions of dollars in aid to victims of such natural disasters. They send virtually nothing but the occasional news release to West Virginia, to help us with treatment centers, public health programs and education that can save lives.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to “drain the swamp” that is politics as usual in Washington. We respectfully ask that he do more to help us with a different kind of swamp in West Virginia.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today