Substance Abuse Costs WV’s Criminal Justice System More Than $429 Million

According to the latest report from the WV Prevention Resource Center (WVPRC), the financial impact of drug and alcohol abuse on West Virginia’s criminal justice system was $429,771,027 in 2010. This is more than a $50 million increase since 2009. The report projects costs could rise to more than $695 million by 2017.

The Financial Burden of Substance Abuse in West Virginia: The Criminal Justice System, Series 2 is an updated, continuation of a series of reports that examine the cost of substance abuse on West Virginia’s criminal justice, healthcare, education, welfare and workforce systems. This report focuses on eight sectors of the criminal justice system – the Public Defender Program, Prosecuting Attorneys Institute, Parole Board, Law Enforcement, Judicial System, Division of Juvenile Services, Division of Corrections, and Regional Jail Authority.

“More than half of the budgets of most WV criminal justice agencies go toward substance abuserelated crimes,” said Yetty Shobo, WVPRC Evaluation Specialist and author of the report. Shobo can be reached at 501.310.8593.

The cost of substance abuse report series is available at www.PrevNET.org. The current report was funded through a federal Projects of Regional and National Significance Grant from the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

Complete Report
News Release

Parenting and Early Intervention...Currently on Prevention WV TV

On the current edition of Prevention West Virginia, Jamie Albert and Michele Burnside discuss talking with your kids about drugs and substance abuse early intervention programs in Logan and Mercer counties. Show times and locations are available at http://www.prevnet.org/preventionwvTV/default.aspx.

New Substance Abuse Prevention Council

Executive Order 5-11 rescinds the WV Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being and establishes the Governor's Advisory Council on Substance Abuse.

September Health Observances

--Childhood / Ovarian / Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
WV Comprehensive Cancer Program

--Fruit & Veggies More Matters & Whole Grains Month

--Healthy Aging Month
WV Bureau of Senior Services

--Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month

--National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

--National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month

--National Cholesterol Education Month

--National Pediculosis (Head Lice) Prevention Month

--Newborn Screening Awareness Month
WV DHHR

Currently on Prevention WV: College Summit WV

Nearly 50 percent of students in low income communities drop out of high school before graduation. One approach to solving this problem is building college-going culture.

On the current edition of Prevention West Virginia, Michele Burnside interviews Jen Wood to discuss how College Summit WV is working with high schools to prepare students for success beyond graduation.

Prevention West Virginia is a 30-minute news and interview-style television program that highlights prevention, wellness, and community development initiatives in WV. It is produced by the WV Library Commission and coordinated/hosted by the WV Prevention Resource Center. Show times includes Suddenlink Channel 17 (Thursdays @ 10:30 am and 10:30 pm; Fridays @ 4:30 am; Saturday @ 7:30 pm).

College Summit WV is one of many projects featured on Our Mountain State: Faces, Places and Stories of Community Development in WV.

August Health & Wellness Observances

--Amblyopia (“lazy eye”) Awareness Month
--Cataract Awareness Month
--Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month
--Family Meals Month
--National Immunization Awareness Month
Resource: WV Immunization Network
--Psoriasis Awareness Month
--Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
--World Breastfeeding Week
Resource: WV Breastfeeding Alliance

Sources: National Health Information Center; Food and Health Communications

July Health Observances

Cord Blood Awareness Month
www.parentsguidecordblood.org

International Group B Strep Awareness Month
www.groupbstrepinternational.org

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
www.arthritis.org/ja-alliance-main.php

National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month
www.nccapm.org/

UV Safety Month
www.aao.org/aaoesite/eyemd/uv.cfm