CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State health officials passed the halfway mark on a series of virtual town halls for the 2022 West Virginia Substance Use Response Plan.
At a public hearing the public was given an opportunity to comment on a portion of the plan that focuses on treatment, recovery and research.
“We want to make sure that we’ve designed this plan in a way that makes an impact on the ground,” said Dr. Matthew Christiansen, director of the state Department of Health and Human Resources’ Office of Drug Control Policy.
The hearing came less than a week after the CDC released new data showing West Virginia ranked second highest in the nation for drug overdose deaths from April 2020 to April 2021. Those deaths increased by 62 percent, more than double the national average in that time frame. Annual overdose deaths topped 100,000 for the first time nationwide.
The purpose of the public hearings is to provide an overview of progress over the last two years and to gain feedback to improve the plan for next year.
Christopher Lovins, of Huntington, expressed his concern for drug recovery centers’ selection of patients.
“We have a big issue with some of the facilities that will take people on suboxone, but not take people on methadone. Maybe some funding for some methadone recovery centers?” he said during break-out groups Tuesday.
State Opioid Response Director Elizabeth Coffey lead the group and said the plan should address worker salaries.
“For example, social work and counseling. They’ll get their education here, but they’ll leave the state and go to other states because the salaries are so much