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House of Delegates Creates Committee to Tackle Substance Abuse

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The West Virginia House of Delegates approved a resolution Wednesday setting up a committee to tackle substance abuse issues in the state.

On the first day of the 2016 session, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed House Resolution 3, creating the Select Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse.

The committee will be led by House Health Committee Chairman Delegate Joe Ellington of Mercer County. 

“This committee is specifically selected so that we can look at different legislation that the governor is bringing forward to us,” Ellington said, “Department of Health and Human Resources, also several of the members and both parties. So we’re trying to do something, you know, bi-partisan that we can really try to solve the problem.”

Ellington says he plans to push his committee to expand on substance abuse legislation from last year.

The committee is authorized to hear testimony, consider legislation and recommend actions to the House Speaker.

President Obama visited Charleston in October to host a discussion with the community about the issue.