New AG Official’s Work Informed By His Own Addiction Recovery

A new member of the state Attorney General’s office is using his difficult personal experience to take a closer look at the state of addiction recovery across West Virginia. 

Josh Barker had a thriving career that included a stint as a state delegate representing the 22nd House District in and around Lincoln County. He is an ex-football coach and former Danville city manager. He began taking prescription pain pills following back surgery in 2013. 

But when both parents faced life-ending illnesses, the grief led to an addiction that spiraled out of control.

“It was shortly after losing my father, lost my mom, my best friend and my dog. I guess it’s like a country song, but it was just in a few months there,” he said. “I mean, it was just a bad deal.”

Barker barely survived back to back overdoses in 2022. “I had a very large amount of pills at one time, and it just escalated around 2020, to where I was taking as many as I could take,” he said.

Barker’s boss, then-State Auditor J.B. McCuskey, held the job through Barker’s recovery. In his new role as attorney general, McCuskey recently offered Barker a new position: helping people with addictions get back on their feet as the state’s new director of substance abuse prevention and outreach.

“West Virginia has 1,800 beds in [substance use] treatment, and I am trying to visit all 1,800 beds and just have those discussions with those directors, employees, clients,” said Barker.

Barker is interested in expanding treatment options, making them more accessible, and exploring the availability of post-rehab support and medication. He said he will make policy recommendations to McCuskey, who will decide how best to proceed.