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Federal officials are going straight to the source -- pharmaceutical companies -- in the fight against the area's drug abuse epidemic, Acting U.S. Attorney Betsy Jividen said Tuesday during a forum at Grand Vue Park in Moundsville
Jividen spoke of the effect drug abuse is having on the country -- and on West Virginia in particular, which leads the nation in overdose deaths per capita. Jividen said her office is working to stem the flow of prescription drugs.
She pointed to a case, just settled in January, in which the McKesson Corporation was ordered to pay $150 million in damages for violations of the Controlled Substances Act.
"We're going to continue to target the sources -- the distributors of these drugs," she said. "We're entering into settlements and getting these pharmaceutical companies to pay us big money. We just got the biggest money judgment in the country, with $150 million from a pharmacy that was just pouring prescription drugs into West Virginia without monitoring how many were going onto the streets. We're going to continue going after them with everything we have."
Stacy Bishop, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, added that the drug problem in many places began with prescription pills, which then drove addicts to heroin as a cheaper alternative.
"For many people who started legitimately on these prescription pain pills, your doctor gives you something -- and I'm not blaming the doctors, because in the beginning, I don't think they understood it, either -- but very quickly you become addicted to those pills, and it's hard to get them on the street," Bishop said. "But it's very expensive, $100 a pop, so many of them turn to heroin, which is a cheaper high. It's easier to get than pills."
On the rehabilitation side of the issue, Jividen also encouraged people to present themselves as an understanding face for those struggling with addiction. She said a supportive role model could be the difference in their lives.
"If they have that one person, their chances of success are so much more," she said. "That's how you can help, is to be that one person to your neighbor, a child you know, that child's friend. Be that one person. Be that role model. You'd be surprised how far that goes."
Also speaking at the panel were four people who have participated in or are currently part of the drug court program, which works alongside the judicial system to help rehabilitate people convicted of drug crimes. One person, "Chaz," who did not provide his last name, mentioned how difficult life can be even after a successful graduation from drug court, due to the implications of a conviction, which in Ohio includes an automatic driver's license suspension.
"Basically, I'm having a really hard time getting around," he said. "I live in Bridgeport, and I'm trying to get a judge who will let me get my license back, because I have things I need to attend (to) to move forward, and it's been a really hard struggle. I have to do 100 hours of community service, on top of the 40 hours of drug court every week."
One other participant, "Shannalee," pointed out that addicts can come from any walk of life, regardless of other circumstances.
"I grew up in Woodsdale, and came from what I thought was a good area," she said. "I thought that nothing bad could ever happen to me. … I went from drinking, to smoking, to harder drugs."
After being jailed twice, Shannalee said she was finally able to complete drug court, and found the support she needed to get help and raise her family.