CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Before the state Senate Finance Committee Wednesday, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey spoke about his office’s success in the previous year addressing addiction through multiple initiatives.
“We are engaged in investigations and lawsuits up and down the pharmaceutical supply channel and have been active in dealings related to physician offices. pharmacies, wholesalers, drug makers, and of course, we are also with entities in governments who we also believe may be partially culpable for the flood of pills into our state,” he said.
Morrisey presented his office’s proposed budget to lawmakers, saying before the committee the attorney general’s office spends most of its time dealing with substance abuse issues, which includes legal proceedings and settlements with drug companies.
“There were record-breaking settlements,” he said. “Approximately $47 million total from a number of drug wholesalers who were sued in the past.”
The attorney general’s office has gone after the matter through legal and education means; Morrisey announced a partnership with the West Virginia University School of Nursing in March 2017 involving teaching eighth graders about the dangers of substance abuse. The program has since expanded to the Marshall University School of Nursing, Shepherd University’s Department of Nursing Education and West Virginia University’s School of Pharmacy. Morrisey’s Combating Addiction with Grace program connects religious organizations with authorities and substance abuse treatment groups.
“We’ve had many, many hundreds of people come out to these events, and now they are beginning to organize,” he said, noting the creation of non-profit organizations interested in the matter.
“The best way to attack substance abuse is to lead at the community level with the assistance of the state, the federal government and, of course, the private sector,” he added.
Morrisey asked the committee to look at the law enforcement needs in West Virginia, which would include ensuring adequate funding for the West Virginia State Police, prosecutors and related individuals. He also requested the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit should be transferred from the state Department of Health and Human Resources to the attorney general’s office. The state Senate approved the change in the 2017 legislative session.