CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state is once again looking for a director of its less than year-old Office of Drug Control Policy following the resignation Friday of Dr. Michael Brumage.
State Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch made the announcement in a news release. Brumage, who had served as the director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, was appointed to the state job on Feb. 5.
In a statement, Brumage indicated his departure after only seven weeks since the appointment has to do with the controversy in Charleston concerning the needle exchange program he began through the health department in 2015.
“I am committed to the health and well-being of all West Virginians and can do so best through my work with the West Virginia University School of Public Health, away from the distractions of recent events,” Brumage said.
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, who has heavily criticized Brumage and the program, called Brumage’s resignation “a step in the right direction.”
“He’s basically responsible for what turned into a needle mill in downtown Charleston which facilitated a crime wave over the last two-and-a-half years,” Jones said Friday.
Since the program’s inception around 651,000 needles have been given away and more than 415,000 have been returned. Police, firefighters, city trash collection crews have all reported finding used needles every day. Supporters have countered the program has helped deter the spread of infectious diseases.
Jones was unsuccessful earlier this week in his attempt to get Charleston City Council members to re-criminalize hypodermic needles. Instead, council plans to form a task force to study the issue for 60-days.
The Office of Drug Control Policy, created in a bill passed by the state legislature last year, has now had two full-time directors who stayed only a short period of time. The office’s first director, Jim Johnson, retired in January after five months on the job. He had spent the prior 40 years working as a Huntington police officer.
The office is responsible for providing administrative support and funding to combating substance abuse, as well as collecting crime and overdose data.
DHHR Secretary Crouch said he was grateful of Brumage’s service.
“We have much work to do in this fight against substance use and plan to forge ahead with this mission,” Crouch said.
Drug Control Office Program Manager Susie Mullens will step in again as interim director.
Brumage’s resignation is effective immediately. He’ll continue to serve as assistant dean for public health practice in WVU’s School of Public Health.