In an effort to share drug abuse prevention information with middle school students, State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has partnered with the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Nursing to collaborate on opioid abuse prevention. The initiative will focus on eighth grade students from Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Preston, and Wetzel counties.
The collaboration is just one initiative the Attorney General has pursued to combat the drug overdose rate in West Virginia. Toni DiChiacchio, assistant dean of faculty practice and community engagement for the WVU School of Nursing, tells WVRecord.com:
“This is an important outreach initiative for our students who soon will be treating patients with substance abuse issues. Education is critical in helping to address addiction issues in our state and by providing our communities, including our schools, with tools and resources, we hope to continue to raise awareness on this important healthcare issue.”
The Attorney General and nursing students from WVU will coordinate to travel to each school and present curriculum that covers the opioid epidemic, prevention, and the long-term impact of drug use. Both partners hope to expand the program to other counties in the future. Other statewide efforts to lower the drug overdose rate include criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, multi-state initiatives, new technology, and a best practices toolkit.
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