MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — There is hope and there is help in West Virginia.
That’s the message Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin wants the more than 150 people who attended the Governor’s Substance Abuse Summit in Martinsburg Wednesday take to heart.
Tomblin and more than a dozen other speakers shared personal stories of addiction and reviewed West Virginia’s efforts to combat substance abuse problems locally and throughout the state.
Tomblin said the state must continue to work with local agencies to combat the issue.
“We’ll continue to try and develop as many new services as we possibly can,” Tomblin said. “and seek every dollar we can to get those services into the areas where they’re needed.”
The speakers included law enforcement, elected officials and those with a personal story to share. Tanya Williams saw her son heading down the wrong path and struggled to accept it even as he was expelled from Martinsburg High School.
“I just didn’t think that my child would be the child that would do drugs,” Williams said.
Her son has since completed Juvenile Drug Court in Jefferson County and is back on the right track in school.
Berkeley County Council President Doug Copenhaver was not so lucky. His son, Douglas, took his own life due to the circumstances of his addiction.
Copenhaver says the county is now taking action to prevent that type of tragedy from happening by attempting to establish a community drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
“We can’t continue to incarcerate when we should be treating,” Copenhaver said.
He cited the county’s $3 million regional jail bill, and believes much of that can be saved if it is redirected to treatment.
Tomblin touted the new 24-hour support line, and urged anyone who needs help to call 1-844-HELP4WV.
More than 150 people attended the summit.