Belcher said the four counties NRGRDA serves have been hard hit and are on notice. She said in 2018 Raleigh County was fourth in the state in highest numbers of overdose deaths. According to state records, Raleigh County ranked sixth in the state for vulnerability to all-drug overdose mortality. Raleigh was considered “most vulnerable,” while Fayette and Summers “more vulnerable” and Nicholas “vulnerable.” She said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranked the four counties “at risk” of outbreaks of HIV and/or hepatitis C nationwide. Of 220 counties designated by CDC as “at risk,” Raleigh County ranked 18th; Fayette County 27th; Nicholas County 98th; and Summers County 110th.

The West Virginia First Foundation will distribute nearly three quarters of the settlement money won by the state in lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors in West Virginia. The other dollars will be allocated to local communities, and three percent will remain in trust. All funds must be used to address the opioid crisis through evidence-based addiction treatment, recovery and prevention programs, or supporting law enforcement efforts to curtail drug distribution.

Belcher said dispelling concerns about the Mountain State’s substance use issues is an impediment to economic progress in attracting new industry and creating skilled, well-paying jobs. “Our region is a leader in creating the Communities of Healing recovery to work program, based on the successful Fruits of Labor model, and we are employing every asset we can to help those in recovery, as well as their families,” she said. “We stand ready to support Greg and the foundation in creating additional innovative programming and resources to combat the crisis we all recognize and consider his appointment a success for Southern WV.” Other advancements include:

• Seed Sower, Inc. selected by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources as southern West Virginia’s Recovery Community Organization and establishing the office of The Well in Beckley;
• Educational institutions in the region revising curriculum, research and experiential opportunities to better address substance use prevention strategies; and
• Hospitals and clinics collaborating with local governments and other organizations to pursue federal grants and to train providers in stressing recovery in treatment and care.

About New River Gorge Regional Development Authority: The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority’s (NRGRDA) mission is to initiate, facilitate and support the economic and community development efforts within the counties of Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers located in this region of southern West Virginia. NRGRDA stimulates the regional economy through business expansion and retention efforts, including an extensive portfolio of financial services; the management of sites for new companies locating to our region; and serving as a point of access for local service providers which offer a variety of technical assistance for business owners.

The West Virginia Hive is the entrepreneurship program of the NRGRDA and a partner in the Communities of Healing program. More can be found at https://nrgrda.org/