Tag: Cabell County

Over 900 Drug-Related Overdoses in Cabell County in 2015

  Officials say more than 900 drug-related overdoses were reported in Cabell County in 2015.

Director of the Mayor’s Office of Drug Control Policy Jim Johnson tells The Herald-Dispatch, that of those reported, 70 resulted in death.

Officials say the number of reported drug overdoses in 2015 was greater than the total number of overdoses from 2012 to 2014 combined. There were 272 overdoses in 2014.

The region has been battling an increase in heroin-related overdose deaths since the mid- to late-2000s.

Johnson says his office will continue looking for solutions.

The harm reduction program, run by the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, was started in 2015. It includes the syringe exchange, which is aimed at keeping users healthy and preventing the spread of Hepatitis C and other diseases.

Cabell County Overdose Death Toll Rises

Seventy people in Cabell County died in 2015 of drug overdoses.

WSAZ-TV reports that the numbers were tallied by the city of Huntington’s Office of Drug Control Policy. The office found that there were more than 900 drug overdoses last year in Huntington and Cabell County.

The number of reported drug overdoses in 2015 was greater than the total number of ODs from 2012 to 2014.

In recent years, West Virginia has ranked near the top or at the top among states in terms of overdose deaths in the U.S.

Power Company Eyes Improvements in 2 West Virginia Counties

Appalachian Power and affiliate AEP West Virginia Transmission Co. are investing $20 million in Cabell and Lincoln counties to improve reliability during…

Appalachian Power and affiliate AEP West Virginia Transmission Co. are investing $20 million in Cabell and Lincoln counties to improve reliability during the harsh winter months.

The investment in the transmission grid includes a new substation and about 4 miles of transmission line.

Spokesman Steven Stewart said the projects are aimed at reducing the likelihood of power failures through the use of a more modern and robust transmission grid.

Construction is expected to start in 2016 and be completed by the end of 2017.

Cabell County Drug Court to Add Program for Prostitutes

The Cabell County Drug Court is adding a new program to help prostitutes who are addicted to drugs.

The West Virginia Supreme Court says in a news release that the Women’s Empowerment and Addiction Recovery Program, or WEAR, will serve up to 20 participants annually.

The program will provide treatment for addiction, along with mental health and physical health treatment.

The drug court also is getting a new name. Beginning Nov. 6, the program will be called the Cabell-Huntington Adult Drug Court. A rededication ceremony is scheduled that day.

Cabell Family Court Judge Patricia Keller presides over the drug court. She tells The Herald-Dispatch that prostitutes are an important group to work with because they are a high-risk, high-need population.

Training Begins for Syringe Exchange Program

The Cabell-Huntington Health department played host to a two-day training session this week. Its goal: to help local health officials get acquainted with conducting a syringe exchange program. 

The first of two trainings conducted by the Harm Reduction Coalition of New York City focused on why a syringe exchange program is right for the Huntington area. The program will allow addicts to exchange their old syringes for new ones.  

Emma Roberts is with the Harm Reduction Coalition and was conducting the training. 

“I think what we’ve seen over the years is that only having one approach to tackling drug issues or a very limited number of approaches doesn’t work for a lot of people,” Roberts said.

The Cabell Huntington Health Department announced last month they would pilot the first needle exchange program for West Virginia. Scheduled to begin this fall, the county hopes it will start decreasing the number of individuals who contract hepatitis or HIV from the use of dirty needles. 

W.Va. to Launch Pilot Syringe Exchange Program in Cabell

A syringe exchange program is being launched to reduce diseases within Cabell County’s population of injection-drug users.

State and local officials announced the one-year pilot program on Thursday at a news conference in Huntington.

Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Karen L. Bowling says the state will provide $10,000 to the Cabell-Huntington Health Department to launch the one-year pilot Another $10,000 will be provided for technical support.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says syringe exchange programs can help reduce the spread of bloodborne illnesses such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Delegate Matthew Rohrbach says the Cabell County program also can help drug users get treatment and return them to the mainstream.

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