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Devote Plenty Of Resources

For some time now, we have been urging the federal government to get serious about helping communities and regions that are suffering worst from the substance abuse epidemic. Finally, it appears to be happening.

On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Justice Department is sending 12 federal prosecutors to places in desperate need of help. On the list are the southern districts of West Virginia and Ohio. The Buckeye State region includes Belmont, Jefferson, Harrison and Monroe counties.

Could we use some help in this region of West Virginia? Of course. But Sessions is right to recognize the southern half of our state is in much more dire circumstances.

Prosecutors under the new program will focus on health care fraud and the opioid epidemic, Sessions said.

Good. Additional help in investigating and prosecuting drug-related crimes will take a bite out of the substance abuse epidemic.

But along with the prosecutors, Sessions should send plenty of other help, including field investigators. Making a real difference, not just a show, will require investing substantial resources.

If handled decisively, the new program could be just the shot in the arm local and state law enforcement agencies need.

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