WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $6,653,952 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Violence and Injury Prevention Program: Overdose Data to Action program through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). The Overdose Data to Action program helps collect data to better prevent and respond to overdose deaths in West Virginia.
“The opioid epidemic continues to have devastating impacts on our state, our communities, and our families. Recent data from the CDC shows that overdose deaths skyrocketed 49% in West Virginia last year as a result of the pandemic. Those numbers are incredibly stark, and reemphasize the importance of ensuring that states have the necessary resources to end the addiction crisis in our communities,” Senator Capito said. “The CDC’s Overdose Data to Action program helps integrate the information we receive into tangible, on-the-ground prevention strategies and solutions. No two communities are the same, and our approaches to end this crisis should resemble that. I’m confident that this funding and this program can have a meaningful impact across West Virginia in our continued battle against substance use.”
“Last year, 1,377 West Virginians died from drug related overdoses, a nearly 50% increase from 2019. This drastic, heartbreaking spike in overdose deaths further underscores the need to take action now and to gather the necessary information in order to combat the drug epidemic. This CDC funding will help West Virginia on drug overdose data collection, prescription drug monitoring, prevention efforts and treatment access across the state,” Senator Manchin said. “I have recently reintroduced nine commonsense bills to address this heartbreaking crisis, and I will continue to work tirelessly to help fight the drug epidemic in West Virginia and across America.”
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