By Adam Pack
According to data collected by the CDC, overdose deaths in West Virginia are not only below projections for the period of April 2021- September 2021, but are falling at a very encouraging rate.
Dr. Matthew Chistiansen, director of the Department of Health and Human Resource’s Office of Drug Control Policy (OCDP), said that drug overdose deaths increased across the nation in virtually every state as COVID-19 policies made individuals “isolated and unable to connect with others.” Christiansen went on to say that the trend of descending statistics on death “is a testament to the leadership of Governor Jim Justice and the hard work and collaboration across DHHR bureaus to provide and expand innovative, high quality, evidence-based addiction and mental care to residents.”
According to the CDC, the provisional drug overdose death count for the 12 month-ending period ending in July 2021 for Greenbrier County is 22. This 12 month-ending period is defined as the number of deaths occurring in the 12 month period ending in the month indicated, for example, the 12 month-ending period in July 2020 would include deaths occurring from August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020.