Nov. 6, 2009 

NOVEMBER IS PREVENTION MONTH IN WEST VIRGINIA
From the First Lady’s Desk: A Monthly Message by First Lady Gayle C. Manchin

Contact: Sara Payne Scarbro, 304-558-2000

It seems that every day we hear or read about the rising cost of health care, as well as the challenges of combating drug and alcohol abuse. These issues impose extraordinary costs for citizens of every state in this nation. 

The governor has spoken throughout his administration about the importance of looking toward prevention to encourage people in their daily activities and enhance the quality of life for all people at all stages of life.  With all the national attention surrounding health care, I thought it important to share some of the great opportunities we have right here in the Mountain State.

Each fall the Share the Vision Conference brings together hundreds of prevention specialists to provide workshops, exhibits, keynote speakers, and networking times for community coalitions, professionals, educators, and a multitude of state and local organizations. The conference is being held this year at the Charleston Civic Center on Nov. 17-18. 

A primary focus this year is prescription drug abuse, which has increased substantially among all age groups in recent years. Obviously by working together, becoming more informed at the grassroots level throughout the state, we can reduce the impact of substance abuse, dedicate more time and resources to prevention and intervention, thereby hopefully reducing catastrophic costs in lives and finances at the back end of these destructive forces.

We know that because of substance abuse in our schools and in our communities, we are losing young people, destroying families, and disrupting the possibilities of what “could have been” if these activities were prevented.

The West Virginia Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being is a diverse group of individuals from all agencies related in any way with “prevention.”  It was created through an executive order and partners are appointed by the governor.  Partners include representatives from state agencies, local non-profits, public health, law enforcement, education, faith based groups, and individuals from all walks of life.  As a group, they have developed a new comprehensive strategic plan for substance abuse.  In doing so, they have deeply explored the essential needs and structure of the state system, reviewed policy recommendations and now seek to implement a plan that fulfills their mission and goals.

In addition, they have created an investment plan to make significant reductions in the social and financial burden these issues places on all West Virginians; more importantly, it encourages and explains how each of us, in our own unique role, can become involved at some level in the state wide prevention system. What we do know is that there is not a person in this state that has not been touched by the destructive force of substance abuse in some way—a family member, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor---it is at epidemic proportions and growing every day.  This is not someone else’s problem anymore.

For the safety and well-being of all of our citizens, it is imperative that each of us get involved individually and collectively to take back our homes, schools, and communities through early and sustained prevention endeavors.