THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR ROBERT BYRD.

Washington, D.C…. U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., today announced that a funding boost may be heading to the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center (WVPRC) in Charleston. Byrd added $1 million to the Fiscal Year 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations legislation. The next step for the bill is debate before the full Senate.

“We all have a stake in ensuring that the promise of our state is not destroyed by alcohol and drug abuse. It is our moral imperative,” Byrd said. “Substance abuse can demolish years of effort in school or in a career, and erase whatever promising future may lie ahead. We must work hard to create awareness about this destructive problem and prevent this type of negative behavior.”

The funding Byrd secured would be used by the WVPRC to develop a drug abuse prevention program. With the growing concern about substance abuse in West Virginia, WVPRC would be able to assess and research the overall problems with substance abuse, and develop a more targeted assessment about specific substances such as prescription drugs and adult consumption of alcohol, among others.

The results of a 2006 study on the costs of substance abuse to West Virginia are staggering. A combination of the direct and indirect financial burden to West Virginia is more than $1.8 billion per year. The direct costs alone were nearly $470 million per year. On an individual basis, the annual cost for every man, woman, and child in West Virginia is $1,100, or over $4,500 annually for a family of four.

“Substance abuse is a largely preventable problem. However, our state has not yet invested wisely in efforts to prevent these problems,” said WVPRC Director Dr. Wayne Coombs. “With the help of Senator Byrd, this funding will allow West Virginia to begin to invest in developing solutions to West Virginia’s substance abuse issues, thereby reducing the state’s financial burden while improving the lives of its citizens and its communities."

WVPRC may also use the funds to develop a statewide social marketing campaign to promote awareness about substance abuse, as well as the dangers of abusing alcohol and drugs. The campaign components may include advertising, pamphlets, and statewide community forums led by people who are experts in preventing and coping with substance abuse.

“Substance abuse is a community-wide concern that deserves a community-wide effort. The West Virginia Prevention Resource Center should be commended for their efforts to begin curbing drug and alcohol abuse in our state,” Byrd added.

The WVPRC currently employs approximately 30 full-time employees, and staff includes a network of sixteen Community Development Specialists (CDS) who live and work locally throughout West Virginia. WVPRC is an affiliate of Marshall University – administratively housed through the Marshall University Graduate College and fiscally administered by the Marshall University Research Corporation.