CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Beginning Tuesday, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Drug Control Policy and the Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment will host six regional public forums regarding the West Virginia Substance Use Response Plan.
Among the topics of discussion will be the current substance use environment in West Virginia, existing activities and initiatives to date, a framework of evidence-based goals, strategies, and objectives to address current gaps and needs.
“We’re going to collect all the information we get from the online process and public input and take a hard look in early November,” Bob Hansen, Executive Director of the Office of Drug Control Policy for the West Virginia DHHR told MetroNews.
“We want to incorporate these recommendations into a more final plan and present the plan to the Governor’s Council (on Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment).”
Tuesday’s event will be held at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center on Armory Drive in Beckley, followed by a forum Wednesday at the WVU Parkersburg Campus Multipurpose Room on Campus Drive.
Next week, discussions will take place Oct. 21 on the University of Charleston campus, in the ballroom on the third floor of the Geary Student Union on MacCorkle Avenue, Oct. 22 at the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Training Center on South Raleigh Street in Martinsburg, Oct. 23 at Wheeling University’s Swint Hall on Washington Avenue and Oct. 24 at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center on Galliher Drive in Fairmont.
All of the meetings will begin at 4:30 p.m. with on-site registration starting at 4:00.
Public comments can be submitted during the forums.
“This is an important process over the next two to three weeks to collect input so we can finalize the plan,” Hansen said. “Our goal is to have the plan ready for the first of the year.”
On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Justice will join Hansen to officially unveil the Jobs & Hope West Virginia program, the state’s comprehensive response to the substance abuse disorder crisis.