EKB News

According to a newly released report, the direct cost of substance abuse in hospital visits, prescription drugs and other health care expenses are running up a bill for the West Virginia health system which is hovering in the neighborhood of roughly $116 million, and is threatening the possibility of topping $200 million in less than ten years. The Prevention Resource Center Director, Wayne Coombs, says current state spending isn't enough to address the problem, and, in an effort to curb the cost of substance abuse, the state needs to invest money in prevention, recovery and other activities aimed at helping those who are addicted.