WVU in the News: West Virginia drug deaths decline, need for help remains
West Virginia state officials announced on Thursday that they estimate a slight decline in drug overdose deaths from 2017 to 2018.
Meanwhile, the head of a police drug unit said he continues to see a barrage of drugs into the area, the head of addiction services at West Virginia University said he continues to see steady demand for treatment, and a West Virginian in long-term recovery said she continues to watch her friends die.
Robin Pollini, associate professor in WVU’s School of Public Health and School of Medicine, said that the decline in deaths is likely due to multiple things, including access to Naloxone. Congressional funding has also helped increased access to medication-assisted treatment in the state, and opioid lawsuit settlement funding has helped increase the number of the treatment beds.