HB 4666 Moves to 3rd Reading on House Special Calendar

House Bill 4666 has moved to 3rd reading on the House Special Calendar. The bill establishes a funding source for prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery. Additional information is available at www.legis.state.wv.us.

House Bill 4666 Moves Out of Finance

House Bill 4666, which establishes a funding source for prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery, has moved out of the House Finance Committee. The bill is on the House Calendar for its second reading tomorrow (March 2). Additional information is available at www.legis.state.wv.us.

Health Observances in March

Health Observances in the month of March include: National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; National Endometriosis Awareness Month; National Nutrition Month; Save Your Vision Month; Workplace Eye Wellness Month; National Problem Gambling Awareness Week (March 7 - 13); National Sleep Awareness Week (March 7 - 13); National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10); National Poison Prevention Week (March 14-20). Source: National Health Information Center

Tonight @ 6:30 on The Legislature Today: Substance Abuse in WV Segment; Interview w/ the WVPRC's Dr. Wayne Coombs

WV Public Broadcasting's 2/25 edition of The Legislature Today will feature information about substance abuse in WV. The segment includes footage and interviews from the Governor's Drug Summit and a recent interview with WVPRC Director Wayne Coombs. Tune in to WV Public Broadcasting tonight at 6:30 pm.

The Legislature Today is WV's source for daily legislative news and information. If features reports from the Senate, House and committee meetings with in-depth interviews about the issues facing the state.

WV's Beer Tax Discussion

As WV discusses the topic of a proposed beer tax increase, the following resource may be helpful: The Cost of Substance Abuse in WV. The "Costs" webpage also includes links to the following articles: Raising Taxes Reduces Harm; Taxes Myth vs. Reality; Responses to Misleading and Inaccurate Beer Industry Propaganda on Excise Taxes.

Public Hearing on Beer Tax Bill Today @ 5 pm

A Public Hearing regarding an increase in the beer tax is scheduled for Monday, February 22 at 5:00 p.m. in the House of Delegates Chambers. The Hearing is being held by the House Committee on Health and will focus on House Bill 2100. This bill, in its amended form, will generate revenues to the state from an increase in the beer tax, which hasn’t been increased since 1966. The revenues will be used to meet the needs of the state’s substance abuse continuum of care: Prevention, Early Intervention, Treatment and Recovery. Monies will be administered by the WV Supreme Court of Appeals and distributed based on decisions of a multi-disciplinary board in a manner consistent with the Governor’s Comprehensive Strategic Plan to Address Substance Abuse in WV and the recommendations of the WV Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being.

February 14-20th is Children of Alcoholics Week

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) encourages you to take part in grassroots efforts in your community to raise awareness that children of addiction can be encouraged and supported just knowing there are safe people who can help. Visit the NACoA website to learn more about what you can do support this national observance. Source: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration E-Network