West Virginia Receives $5 Million in Federal Funding to Combat Opioid Epidemic with Data Tracking Program

The Centers for Disease Control’s Overdose Data to Action in States program has allocated over $5 million to West Virginia to track opioid use in the state. This funding is part of an effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help local government health offices reduce drug overdoses and related harms.

West Virginia has been deeply affected by the drug epidemic, and this funding will play a crucial role in combating it. Senator Joe Manchin’s office released a statement expressing pleasure at the investment by HHS. According to Manchin, this funding will be essential in collecting data to aid in preventing overdoses within West Virginia.

Chris Schulz, a reporter covering the education beat in North Central and Morgantown for WVPB, has experience in immigration advocacy and education in the Washington, D.C. area. Prior to this role, Chris worked as the digital media editor at The Dominion Post newspaper in Morgantown. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and holds a Masters in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

The West Virginia Department of Health has used similar funds in the past to enhance its Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which will be assisted by this new funding as well. The program will help the state health department track and prevent both fatal and nonfatal overdoses, as well as identify emerging drug threats.