West Virginia
West Virginia bill proposes $1 cigarette tax to fund EMS
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – As West Virginia faces an unprecedented collapse of ambulance services, Senator Tom Takubo has introduced Senate Bill 639, which would create a $1 user fee on cigarettes dedicated entirely to supporting emergency medical services throughout the state.
The bill would impose a $1 user fee on each 20 cigarettes (or in like ratio on any partial package). All revenue generated from the fee would be directed to a special state fund created specifically to support emergency medical services operations.
The bill would amend the state’s Tobacco Products Excise Tax Act and add new sections to the West Virginia Code defining how the fee operates and where the revenue flows.
The fee is conditional on counties meeting certain requirements: they must have continuously provided emergency medical services on a county-wide basis in the past 12 months and maintain an operational emergency medical services levy.
The need for funding is urgent. At least 26 ambulance services have shut down in West Virginia in just the last two years.
The most recent closure was Hillsboro EMS in Pocahontas County, which shut down in May 2025. Hillsboro EMS cited funding problems and a lack of volunteers as reasons for the closure. The service could no longer afford volunteer training, equipment, and supplies — or meet state regulations.
All revenue collected from the $1 cigarette user fee would be deposited into a special Emergency Medical Service Agency Fund within the State Treasury. The funds can only be expended to support emergency medical services in counties that meet the eligibility requirements.
Any balance in the fund, including accrued interest, remains in the fund for continued EMS support.
Copyright 2026 WDTV. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
YSS offers West Virginia’s first transitional living recovery programs for young adults
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WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling is home to West Virginia’s first recovery program designed specifically for young adults, offering a new track aimed at people ages 18 to 24 who are working to overcome substance use disorders.
Youth Services System announced it will offer the recovery track at the McCrary Center in Wheeling for young adults dealing with opioid or stimulant use disorders. The program is designed to provide recovery-focused housing and support services, giving participants a safe, structured environment as they work toward long-term recovery and stability.
“Our transitional living program has been licensed by the Department of Human Services, as well as the Office of Health Facility Licensure. We also achieved the West Virginia Alliance of Recovery Residence certification so there will be a lot of oversight in this program. And we look forward to our continued work with them,” YSS CEO Jill Eddy said.
Youth Services System received a one-time grant through the West Virginia Bureau of Behavioral Health to help expand services and launch the new track in Wheeling.
“Research shows that the longer a person is provided a safe space while in recovery, the chances of their success in recovery and remaining sober is definitely increased,” Eddy said.
Services will include substance-free and MAT-friendly housing, peer recovery support, therapy, recovery planning, and overdose prevention education. The program also supports individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions and prioritizes high-risk and underserved populations.
More information about Youth Services System is available here.
BUCKHANNON, W.Va (WDTV) – WestCare West Virginia cut the ribbon for its Hope in the Mountains complex on 22 N. Locust Street. The new facility will treat men with substance abuse issues with the hopes of fighting the drug epidemic in West Virginia.
Each room in the complex includes 56 beds, a television set and clean bathroom. Stephen Wright spoke ahead of the ribbon cutting along with Buckhannon officials. He said this facility differs from others on how they approach treatment.
“We really focus on the individual and the individual needs and focus on their progress in the program versus a number of days that a person is in treatment. So it’s really individualized,” said Stephen Wright, chief operating officer of WestCare Appalachia. “So we still need aftercare, outpatient counseling, and those things. But this really gives an opportunity for an intervention to break that cycle for individuals struggling with addiction. Because lots of times they must be separated from the living circumstances that they’re in at that time.”
Copyright 2026 WDTV. All rights reserved.
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