North Central West Virginia leaders announce action plan to combat drug abuse

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Community leaders in North Central West Virginia are taking a new approach to combat drug abuse and overdose deaths in the region, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.

A diverse group of local community leaders recently gathered at Robert C. Byrd High School to present the United States Attorney’s Addiction Action Plan, an innovative strategy designed to address substance abuse through innovative prevention initiatives, increasing access to treatment, and effective enforcement.

U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld coordinated the working group, which has been meeting since March 2015. The working group included nine subcommittees, led by the following individuals:

• Prevention. Jo Anne McNemar • Harrison County Family Resource NetworkNorth Central West Virginia leaders announce action plan to combat drug abuse
• Education. Superintendent Frank Devono • Monongalia County Schools
• Law Enforcement. Chief Ed Preston • Morgantown Police Department
• Medical. Pat Ryan, MA • CEO • William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital
• Treatment. Dr. Carl Sullivan • WVU Healthcare • Chestnut Ridge Center
• Treatment. Dr. James Berry • WVU Healthcare • Chestnut Ridge Center
• News Media. Aaron Williams • News Director • WBOY-TV
• News Media. John Miller • Executive Editor • Exponent Telegram
• Community Corrections. Ted Offut • Director • Marion County Day Report Center
• Recovery. Lou Ortenzio • Celebrate Recovery Clarksburg
• Business & Legislation. Barbara Evans Fleischauer • West Virginia House of Delegates

The plan released today targets North Central West Virginia and is one part a larger initiative. A similar plan is already in place in the Northern Panhandle, and Ihlenfeld plans to create similar working groups throughout Northern West Virginia.

Anyone interested in additional information on the effort to combat drug abuse is encouraged to contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia at (304) 234-0100. Updates on the plan will be available through the U.S. Attorney’s official Twitter account @NDWVnews.

A complete copy of the United States Attorney’s Addiction Action Plan for North Central West Virginia is available here: Addiction Action Plan.