U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) announced Wednesday that three organizations dedicated to preventing substance abuse, including one based in Morgan County, will be receiving $125,000 annually for the next five years.
According to a press release, the Morgan County Partnership, the Strong Through Our Plan Coalition of Mingo County and the Booke-Hancock counties-based Advocates for Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition will each be receiving the funds through the federally funded Drug-Free Communities Support Program in order to curtail prescription drug, marijuana and alcohol use among young people.
Both senators said the funding is crucial to reducing the use of drugs in all four counties.
"Every day, 2,500 young Americans abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time," Manchin said in the press release. "This is tragic and must stop. ...The devastating impacts of substance abuse will hinder the growth and success of our children if we do not act, and I am pleased that this program will help West Virginia's youth in Brooke, Hancock, Mingo and Morgan counties overcome these obstacles and create for them a safe and healthy future."
Capito added, "West Virginia has the highest rate of deaths from drug overdose in the nation and far too many of our young people contribute to this heartbreaking statistic. We must do everything in our power to prevent the spread of substance abuse, and this federal support is a positive step toward creating a drug-free West Virginia."
Megan Hauser, director for the Morgan County Partnership, said after 10 years since its founding, the partnership is starting to receive recognition for its efforts to prevent substance abuse amongst the county's youths.
"I would say substance abuse is an issue for every community, but we have found that the majority of kids in Morgan County are not abusing prescription drugs, they are not engaging in underage drinking and they are not smoking marijuana," she said. "This partnership involves a lot of individuals and organizations in the community, and we are so fortunate to have a county that values our youths."
According to Hauser, the partnership works on building awareness and preventing children from engaging in substance abuse, while also providing referral services for children already experiencing substance abuse or dependency issues. With "drug takeback days" coordinated with the sheriff's department, as well as presentations in the local schools, Hauser said the partnership is focusing on prescription pill abuse before it turns into heroin addiction.
"Through our data and the conversations we've held in the community, what we've found is that kids who were using prescription drugs in high school were typically getting them from their friends or in their parents' medicine closets," she said. "But after they graduate, they might not have the same level of access, so they turn to heroin, which is considerably cheaper on the street than painkillers."
Hauser said with the additional funding, the partnership will be able to continue its school programs, media campaigns and community events to combat substance abuse. She said the community support has gained results amongst the county's children.
"The partnership would have never been awarded the grant if it wasn't doing something right," Hauser said. "Technically, you don't really see changes in a community until after seven to 10 years, so we're starting to see positive trends with the amount of kids who are choosing not to use drugs and alcohol."