The good news is that crystal meth addiction is decreasing in West Virginia. Police busted 531 meth labs in 2013, but the number seems to be dropping to around half of that this year. Crack cocaine also is less noticeable.
The bad news is that other types of addiction — to pain pills and heroin — are bad as ever, senselessly destroying young lives, wrecking families, hurting communities. The Mountain State continues to lead the nation in overdose deaths.
And the curse isn’t limited to poverty-wracked coal towns. A new federal report says prosperous Berkeley County in the Eastern Panhandle had 24 overdose deaths last year.
Cabell County paramedics reported 41 overdoses, and nine deaths, in the first three weeks of September.
In Congress, Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are crusading against the menace, chiefly by sending federal money for extra policing, and for drug courts that try to keep addicts clean instead of punishing them.
“Crime and substance abuse wreaks so much havoc on our families, our communities and our state,” Manchin said. “Our drug court officers must have the necessary resources to provide treatment and other services to those battling drug addictions so that we can combat this devastating epidemic.”
Capito commented: “West Virginia’s drug epidemic is hurting businesses seeking to hire new workers and homeowners who are concerned about declining neighborhoods and home values.”
It’s possible for some victims — those with enough courage and inner strength — to become “clean and sober,” saving themselves.
Last week, profiler Sandy Wells told the tragic-but-inspiring story of Jeremy Pfost, who came from a successful Charleston family, but sank toward hopeless addiction at age 14 at John Adams Junior High.
He was thrown out of high school in 10th grade and lived two decades off-and-on as a “scruffy bum,” stealing to get drug money, manipulating friends, sleeping in a tool shed, living in a car.
Finally, in his late 30s, Pfost pulled himself together and “detoxed by myself.” He credits religion and church friends with keeping him drug-free. With support from Randolph Street Baptist Church, he’s launching Hope for Appalachia to rescue more addicts. A charity golf tournament last week at Berry Hills Country Club generated seed money for the project.
If Pfost can save himself, other strong-willed addicts can do likewise. We hope that all the various efforts — by members of Congress, by West Virginia drug courts, by police, by clinics, by church groups and by ex-addicts — can make headway against this mindless curse upon West Virginia.