WASHINGTON — Wood County was designated Thursday as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, allowing the county the opportunity to receive federal resources for drug control efforts.
The designation was created under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, and is aimed at allowing law enforcement agencies from multiple governments to share information and coordinate operations in an effort to decrease drug use.
U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., as well as Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., sent a letter to Richard Baum, the acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in May expressing support of the designation.
“he opioid epidemic is impacting every way of life in our state and it is crucial our law enforcement officials and drug task forces are well equipped to combat the influx of drugs coming into our state,” Manchin said in a statement.
“Putting an end to this terrible drug epidemic requires a broad-spectrum of solutions,” Capito said.
“HIDTA designations play an important role in this fight because they provide additional resources that are essential for those on the front-lines to continue their efforts to create drug-free communities throughout the state.”
McKinley said local communities need all available help in combating drug-related activity.
“The HIDTA program gives law enforcement additional resources to take drug traffickers off our streets,” he added.
Wood County is the 21st county in West Virginia to be designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, with six of the counties in McKinley’s 1st Congressional District.