HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Health officials in Cabell County are taking what they’ve learned locally from the drug epidemic across West Virginia with a series of meetings focused on developing effective community responses to the substance use crisis.
The series from the Bernard McDonough Foundation and Marshall Health started in Huntington on Tuesday with about 50 participants from Cabell County, Lincoln County, Mason County and Wayne County.
“Our goal is to provide a coordination of care around the state of West Virginia,” said Dr. Lyn O’Connell, associate director of community services in the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine’s Division of Addiction Sciences.
“This is really the first time that we’ll go statewide and hear and build collaboration around the state, but then also be able to share some of those tough lessons learned, funding resources and also allow different folks around the state to be connected to funding sources.”
To be highlighted during the meetings was the “City of Solutions” handbook developed through the Bernard McDonough Foundation and Marshall Health.
It’s the blueprint followed in Huntington to develop and implement drug prevention and treatment programs. Such programs, though, won’t be universal.
“It’s going to be a different approach in each place,” O’Connell said.
Overall, the meetings were geared toward local health administrators, elected officials, key stakeholders in areas like the faith community and economic development, members of foundations and local advocates.
On Friday, the second meeting in the series was planned in Wood County. It was scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. at West Virginia University – Parkersburg.
In Ohio County, a meeting was on the schedule for Oct. 16 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Highlands Event Center in Triadelphia.
The full meeting schedule was not available as of Tuesday morning.