National Prevention Week recognized by the West Virginia Department of Human Services

Danielle Sandler
·2 min read

CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) is observing National Prevention Week.

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They are also partnering with the Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH), along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to observe this week that started May 12, 2024 and goes through to May 18, 2024.

The purpose of National Prevention Week is to promote the prevention of substance use and positive mental health in organizations and communities. Evidence shows that there is effectiveness from these programs that support the prevention of substance use and other disorders.

Prevention resources in West Virginia includes:

  • Six regional Prevention Lead Organizations (PLOs), which include county coalitions under them

  • Partnerships for Success (PFS) Coordinators

  • State Opioid Response (SOR) Coalition Engagement Specialists

  • SOR Adult Suicide Intervention Specialists

  • Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Youth Suicide Intervention Specialists

  • Prevent Suicide WV

“As we join together for National Prevention Week, let’s remind ourselves of the shared commitment to keeping our communities healthy and hopeful. Thanks to our collaborative teamwork and strategic partnerships with agencies across the state, our collective efforts to prevent substance use are making a positive impact,” said Christina Mullins, DoHS Deputy Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.

These resources for substance use prevention in the Mountain State are supported through the SAMHSA Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) and other grants that support this cause.

Other programs through Help & Hope WV are funded by most of these grants and helps with the following programs:

  • West Virginia’s Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF Rx) helps to address prescription drug abuse with ages starting from 12 to 17 and adults that are 18 and older.

  • West Virginia’s Strategic Prevention Framework Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose (SPF PDO) helps with educating and informing communities, which includes strategies for high-risk regions and communities, and setting an emergency treatment plan in place.

  • The State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grant (STR) helps to up the access to treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and to reduce the number of deaths through prevention and treatment strategies.

Parents and caregivers play a big part in a child’s prevention and can have influence to whether they use drugs or alcohol. The earlier someone begins, the more likely they are to develop an addiction.

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For more information, visit helpandhopewv.org.

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