As the economy worsens, crime increases. The West Virginia State Police are noticing a particular increase in the number of drug related crimes, which is cause for concern because of the potential for damage to citizens' health and the state's financial well-being.

The state's direct costs are more than $470 million for substance abuse per year, and are borne by the criminal justice and jailing systems, according to Wayne Coombs, director of the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center. (Source: WTRF Channel 7)

The Prevention Resource Center is at the heart of the state's attempts at creating an effective prevention system. The Center's current focus is prescription drug abuse which, according to State Police Spokesman Sgt. Michael Baylous, is near epidemic levels. Center officials hope to be able to identify those at risk of prescription drug abuse, and intervene before the abuse starts.

Labels: prescription drugs, drug_abuse

Posted By: Aspen/CRC