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West Virginia’s opioid crisis transcends partisan politics

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West Virginia’s opioid crisis transcends partisan politics


CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Dr. Frank Annie sees desperation in his hospital, the place 30- and 40-year-olds are available in with organ failure after injecting opioids with soiled needles. Joe Solomon finds it within the faces of those that line up within the church gyms and parking tons the place he passes out overdose reversal medicine. Sheena Griffith encounters it on the streets she navigates with a automotive filled with HIV take a look at kits and disinfectant for sanitizing syringes.

Annie is a Republican, Solomon a Democrat and Griffith an impartial. All three are operating for metropolis council within the capital metropolis of battle-scarred West Virginia, the place the devastating toll of the opioid disaster transcends occasion politics.

“There’s a lot unchecked ache, and it’s exhausting,” stated Griffith, a restoration coach who’s battled substance use herself. “If we’re a God-fearing state, a God-fearing nation, the place is God within the metropolis of Charleston?”

Greater than a yr after the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention declared Charleston the scene of the nation’s “most regarding HIV outbreak” as a consequence of IV drug use, the three candidates say not sufficient has modified. And with hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from authorized settlements with opioid producers and pharmacies on the way in which particularly for therapy and restoration, additionally they really feel the urgency of getting issues proper regionally, the place it issues most.

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However persons are divided, even when not on occasion traces. Towards CDC steering, state and native officers voted final yr to criminalize applications that give individuals who inject medicine clear syringes to forestall the unfold of HIV and hepatitis C. A proposal for a low-barrier shelter utilizing COVID-19 aid cash that might enable residents experiencing homelessness to obtain substance use dysfunction therapy — initially endorsed by town’s Democratic mayor — was tabled after folks complained concerning the potential influence on close by colleges and companies.

Charleston, which leans extra liberal than the remainder of West Virginia, did make investments a number of million {dollars} in COVID aid funds to help a girls’s shelter, a program that helps folks get entry to everlasting housing and a meals truck run by an area soup kitchen, however a lot of the cash has gone to financial growth initiatives.

Annie stated town is extra centered on attempting to rebrand and rebuild after the decline of the coal trade and the ache of the opioid epidemic, and has but to really deal with the underlying points, together with the wants of people that have lengthy been exploited.

“We’re going via a really uncomfortable transitional period in West Virginia, principally for the soul of West Virginia,” stated the analysis scientist specializing in cardiovascular well being at Charleston Space Medical Heart Memorial Hospital. “This stage of ache and distrust is nothing new. The query is, what we do about it now. Can we ignore it constantly, or will we try to be proactive and belief science lastly?”

Solomon, a skilled social employee, co-runs the nonprofit Options Oriented Habit Response. He stated members of his group felt a way of urgency in 2020 once they started organising tents in church parking tons and handing out sterile syringes.

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Syringe entry applications are CDC-recommended and scientifically confirmed strategies to forestall illness transmission. At SOAR’s well being gala’s — positioned within the a part of Charleston with the very best proportion of emergency overdose calls — they performed HIV testing and distributed naloxone, an overdose reversal drug. In addition they helped join folks with restoration sources.

However some folks within the metropolis have been cautious. They complained about needle litter, and stated this system let individuals who use medicine maintain utilizing. They stated the well being gala’s have been introducing new challenges, equivalent to homelessness and psychological well being points, to residential neighborhoods.

Jennifer Pharr, a fellow Democrat who’s operating in the identical race as Solomon for one in every of six at-large seats, stated SOAR did not spend sufficient time getting neighborhood buy-in and explaining what it was doing earlier than it began handing out needles. It did not assist that the majority-white-run group additionally arrange well being gala’s within the Charleston neighborhood with the very best focus of Black residents, stated Pharr, who’s Black.

Pharr, who misplaced her brother to an overdose, stated the problem is private to lots of people and he or she understands their worry.

“You really want to go and knock on the neighbors’ doorways and allow them to know what you’re doing,” she stated. “There’s all the time going to be a collateral circumstance that occurs from any good intention.”

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State lawmakers responded to the scenario by passing new rules requiring syringe suppliers to be licensed and needle recipients to indicate a state ID — one thing many unhoused folks lack — and convey again every needle after use.

Town council adopted with an ordinance making it a misdemeanor legal offense to run an alternate program violating the restrictions, including fines of $500 to $1,000 per offense.

SOAR shut down its syringe alternate; new HIV instances continued to be reported.

Touring across the metropolis for 3 days with a backpack, consuming at soup kitchens and sleeping underneath bridges and in parking tons this previous summer season, Solomon interviewed residents concerning the adjustments they’d prefer to see. He stated many individuals “simply want fundamental dignity and fundamental companies,” one thing town has a uncommon alternative to offer.

“They’ve by no means had extra money within the historical past of cash on this metropolis, and you might make the case that there’s by no means been extra stigma within the historical past of stigma,” stated Solomon. “How dangerous does the ache must get till town says we have to have a imaginative and prescient for a metropolis of mercy, for a metropolis of options?”

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Annie stated he needs each metropolis official may spend time in his hospital intensive care unit.

“Generally it appears like they reside in a really completely different actuality than what’s actually occurring, or they select to not acknowledge it,” he stated.

As a Republican, he’s tried to emphasize the monetary burden of caring for folks when dependancy goes unaddressed. From 2008 to 2015, Annie’s hospital misplaced over $13 million treating sufferers affected by infective endocarditis, a life-threatening coronary heart irritation that is comparatively uncommon outdoors IV drug customers. A lot of them are uninsured and have to stay in hospital beds for weeks at a time.

He needs town and the hospital system to affix forces on a hurt discount program — one thing hospital management beforehand expressed curiosity in. He stated the controversy on the laws limiting syringe exchanges was rife with “misconceptions” and “antiquated notions” about hurt discount and syringe companies.

He stated it frustrates him when he hears folks say extra information is required on HIV and different opioid-related points within the metropolis, since he is been the one amassing it.

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“We’ve had the info for years,” he stated. “It’s simply there’s no will.”

Griffith, who works on the identical hospital as Annie, sees the way in which folks reside as soon as they go away. Driving round in her Nissan Maxima, she searches for folks in tent encampments, in deserted homes, in alleyways and affords them meals, blankets and help.

“Daily I am going out, and I attempt to assist somebody save somebody, say one thing that’s going to alter their thoughts and save their life and make them wish to be higher,” she stated. “And every single day that I do this, I’m drowning, as a result of it’s such a repetitive factor.”

Griffith, now in restoration after years of scuffling with substance use and homelessness, stated she’d in all probability be useless if it weren’t for a program that provided clear syringes. When she misplaced all the pieces, it was a employee she’d met on the syringe alternate who helped her get therapy.

She stated individuals who attempt to deal with the issue by criminalizing dependancy merely do not perceive it.

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“They don’t learn about sleeping on the road and questioning the place you will eat that evening,” she stated. “Let individuals who have lived an actual life, who come from the streets, attempt to change issues. Our metropolis is dying of drug dependancy, so let individuals who care about what our metropolis is dying from repair the issue.”



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West Virginia

Cincinnati Withdraws from Dual Meet Against West Virginia, Sparking Controversy

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Cincinnati Withdraws from Dual Meet Against West Virginia, Sparking Controversy


The University of Cincinnati has withdrawn from its scheduled dual meet against West Virginia scheduled for Friday afternoon and Saturday morning in Morgantown, West Virginia. The meet was scheduled to be the teams’ second as Big 12 opponents after splitting the victories last season in a two-day affair hosted by Cincinnati. There, the Bearcats won the women’s meet 241-112 and the Mountaineers won the men’s meet 162-191.

West Virginia posted the news of the cancellation on their Instagram page, with assistant coach Sydney Pickrem calling it a “huge disappointment for our swimmers” on her story, adding “Let’s continue to build this sport & always strive to achieve the highest level, especially when we RACE.”

Individuals close to the West Virginia program are telling SwimSwam that Cincinnati forfeited the meet because of a dispute over whether to wear technical racing suits. West Virginia wanted to wear the suits and Cincinnati did not, and felt that this would put them at a disadvantage.

Neither coaching staff took the opportunity to dispute that narrative.

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Cincinnati head coach Mandy Commons-DiSalle is currently the president of the Board of Directors of the Collegiate Swimming & Diving Coaches’ Association of America (CSCAA)

Historically, collegiate dual meets have been raced almost-exclusively in ‘practice suits,’ with tech suits reserved for championship meets and mid-season invitationals. More recently, however, teams have taken to wearing their fast-suits for every meet as a way to more specifically prepare for the racing that will take place in those championships. That includes the Arizona State Sun Devils, who used the tactic en route to last year’s NCAA Men’s Championship in swimming & diving.

These suits improve times by reducing drag, providing muscle compression, and allowing athletes to maintain a better posture in the water.

West Virginia’s official Instagram account “liked” a comment by program alum Logan McFadden saying that “Somebody got scared and doesn’t want to come to town anymore.”

At last year’s Big 12 Championship meet, Cincinnati’s first in the conference, the Bearcats finished ahead of West Virginia in both meets. On the women’s side, Cincinnati was 4th with 918.50 points and West Virginia was 6th with 699 points. On the men’s side, Cincinnati was 4th with 1285.50 points and West Virginia was 5th with 1138.50 points.

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West Virginia looks to move forward after change in defensive leadership

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West Virginia looks to move forward after change in defensive leadership


West Virginia has a new defensive coordinator after head coach Neal Brown elected to move from Jordan Lesley following a 4-4 start to the season.

Lesley, who had been with the Mountaineers since 2019, had served as the leader of the defense since the 2020 season when he was elevated to the role after the dismissal of Vic Koenning.

The assistant shared the role the first season with co-defensive coordinator Jahmile Addae, and the unit finished No. 21 in scoring defense in 2020 allowing just 20.5 points per game and that total was even higher in total defense at No. 4 nationally surrendering just 291.4 yards per contest.

In 2021 Lesley took over full-time and the unit ranked 44th nationally permitting 23.85 points per game and at No. 37 nationally yielding 350.2 yards per contest. That took a dip in 2022 as the defense was at 116th in scoring defense giving up 32.9 points per game and 98th in total yards with 412.1 per contest.

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Things improved last season as West Virginia was at 64th in scoring defense at 26.2 per game and 68th in yards at 380.8 but so far this year it had been a struggle for the defense.

West Virginia is 97th in scoring defense giving up 28.4 points per game and 84th in total defense. The Mountaineers were perched at 114th in passing defense and struggled mightily in that department for most of the season to date. Those issues prompted Brown to make the decision make a change.

“I met with Coach Lesley this morning and informed him that we are making a change at the defensive coordinator position. I’m very thankful for the investment Jordan and his family have made in West Virginia football. Jordan has been a key part of my staff for almost a decade,” Brown said in a statement.

The decision means that West Virginia will owe Lesley the remainder of his $775,000 salary for this season as well as $800,000 for next season. The Mountaineers also could offset the payment amount with any future employment based on what he earns at his next stop.

Now, the focus is on the final four games of the season with inside linebackers coach Jeff Koonz assuming the role atop the defense and the Mountaineers will look to make the most of their remaining opportunities.

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Koonz has served as a co-defensive coordinator during his time at Cincinnati and now will have a chance to prove that he is capable in the role for the remainder of this season.

“These decisions are never easy, but I’m confident this change is in the best interest of our program and puts us in the best position to finish strong. Our players have a tremendous opportunity in front of them, and I know they will give their all for WVU. Jeff Koonz will step up and serve as the defensive coordinator moving forward. I know he and our entire staff will do everything they can to help us succeed,” Brown said.



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Obituary for Vickie Lea McNeely at Morgan Funeral Home

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Obituary for Vickie Lea McNeely at Morgan Funeral Home


ASBURY, WV Vickie Lea McNeely, 60 of Asbury, WV passed away Saturday, October 26, 2024, at CAMC Memorial Hospital following a short illness. Born August 25, 1964, in Ronceverte, WV, she was the daughter of Lewis Dale McNeely and Agnes C. Jones McNeely Hanneman. She was preceded in death by



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