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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy understands the campaigns in West Virginia addressing drug addiction and overdoses.
Dr. Rahul Gupta presided over the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department for five years before becoming the state’s chief health officer in January 2015. He oversaw multiple initiatives addressing addiction during his three years in the statewide position, in which he focused on utilizing data and identifying risks in formulating response strategies.
Gupta, who became the White House drug czar last November, was in West Virginia to meet with local, state and federal officials about the matter and response plans. His first event was a Q&A at the University of Charleston to discuss his role and the perspective from his position in the Biden administration.
“It’s really critical for me to be able to make sure we are doing everything we can right here in the Mountain State because for so long, so many West Virginians have suffered from substance use disorder,” Gupta told MetroNews.
“I think our state can serve as a model example for the nation in how to get things done right, how to save lives, and we just have the perfect recipe here of individuals who look at each other as neighbors, friends, family. Every time this tragedy happens, it’s one of us that gets lost. We understand that.”
West Virginia leads the nation in drug overdose deaths; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the state had 81.4 deaths related to overdoses per 100,000 people in 2020. Kentucky had the second highest rate: 49.2 deaths per 100,000 people. The national average is 28.3 deaths per 100,000 people.
“One of the first things that is important to recognize is this is a crisis that doesn’t care about people’s politics or whether they’re rich or poor, or Black or white, urban or rural. That’s why it is such an important critical issue,” Gupta said. “President Biden has really made it a part of his unity agenda, with the sense of a top priority and an urgent priority.”
The White House released its National Drug Control Strategy in April. The Biden administration has called for expanding access to intervention services and treatment, as well as improving collaboration with law enforcement to better address drug trafficking.
Gupta said a leading problem in treating addiction is the lack of service options. He noted the negative stigma surrounding treatment hinders growth.