CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Provisional data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates West Virginia’s decline in monthly overdose deaths in 2021 is better than the national average and neighboring states.
On Wednesday, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) reported an improvement in the number of monthly overdose deaths from April 2021 through September 2021.
According to the data report, in April 2021 there was a 12 month-ending provisional number of drug overdose deaths at 1,510. In September 2021, that number is listed at 1,284.
The study also shows two of West Virginia’s counties with typically the highest overdose death rates, Cabell and Kanawha counties, decreased deaths from April to September 2021.
“When overdose death numbers come down, that tells us that our approach is working. Focusing on evidence-based proven intervention is the right way to go. We are nowhere near where we need to be though,” Dr. Matthew Christiansen, ODCP Director told MetroNews on Wednesday.
“No overdose deaths are acceptable for myself and my office or the administration.”
Both Christiansen and Bill Crouch, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) have stated that the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 showed real effects on those struggling with addiction.
Crouch said during the COVID-19 press briefing with Gov. Jim Justice Wednesday that in 2017, West Virginia was number one in the country in overdose deaths. In 2018 there was a 22% reduction and a 13% reduction in 2019 but 2020 was a significant rise.
“We ended up with a lot of folks who lost their contact, lost those resources, lost a lot of the support mechanisms they needed to tackle this,” Crouch said.
Christiansen credits a number of measures taken in 2021 to address the opioid epidemic including a 300% increase in the distribution of naloxone to high-risk individuals, continued the expansion of treatment and recovery services, licensed new syringe service programs, and building a network of ODCP Regional Coordinators in the hardest-hit counties,
In total, Christiansen said quick response teams have been expanded to 38 counties
“We have more treatment and recovery beds than we’ve ever had,” he said.
Christiansen testified in the U.S. House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness and Growth Wednesday. He said he was speaking about getting people with addiction and in recovery into the workforce.
Resources include HELP4WV, which offers 24/7 confidential support and resource referrals through call, text, and chat lines. HELP4WV also offers a Children’s Crisis and Referral line. Residents may call HELP4WV at 844-HELP4WV, text at 844-435-7498, or chat at www.help4wv.com.
Additionally, another service, Help304 offers social and emotional counseling through its professional crisis counselors. People may contact Help304 at 1-877-HELP304, text at 1-877-435-7304, or chat at http://help304.com.
The National Suicide Prevention Line, which provides 24/7 free and confidential support, prevention, and crisis resources, is available at 800-273-TALK (8255).
“This whole community response is what it takes to draw people out of addiction, to build up communities and ensure they have help for a better future,” Christiansen said.
