Substance abuse and its toll highlighted at Bluefield State University program

Mar. 12—By GREG JORDAN

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD — Overcoming the stigma of drug abuse and getting people the help they need, plus the financial cost addiction inflicts on the state, were topics Monday at Bluefield State University.

Cheryl Belcher, who is part of the nursing faculty at Bluefield State University and a nurse practitioner, spoke at the Hebert Gallery/Harris-Jefferson Student Center about substance abuse in West Virginia, its impact, and strategies for prevention and intervention.

"Substance abuse disorder and Hepatitis C and the impact it has in West Virginia because people who inject drugs are the number one risk factor in contracting Hepatitis C and Mercer County has a very high rate of Hepatitis C," Belcher said. "There's also an increased rate of opioid drug overdoses and so we need to spread the word. We need to educate the community and reduce stigma and barriers and challenges so they can get treatment and lead productive lives."

Mercer County has the fifth-highest Hepatitis C rate in West Virginia, Belcher said.

"And that's because of IV drug use, and so there's been a lot initiatives by Gov. Justice to increase housing and transportation and Medicaid assisted treatment for drug use," she said. "But it takes a whole community. One person, one family, one neighborhood cannot do this. It affects all of us," Belcher said.

Substance abuse disorder also affects the state's economy.

"It costs each resident about $4,700 a year. But that includes treatment and incarceration due to drug use. It's a huge financial impact on our state so everyone has something to benefit by encouraging people to get help. It's not a moral failure. Drug addiction is not a moral failure," Belcher said. "It's not a choice. It's a disease and we need to treat it as such."

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com