Elkins Regional Task Force hosts public meeting on substance abuse issues

ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) — Members of the Elkins Regional Task Force on Addiction, Homelessness and Mental Health provided an update on the work it’s doing to fight issues related to substance abuse Tuesday night in the Elkins City Council chambers.

Task force officials gave an update on several items including local sober living facilities, opioid settlement funds and peer recovery support specialist activities such as a collaboration with officers and deputies of the Elkins Police Department and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department. The task force also outlined its priorities, with the major one being to give clinical support to children who are affected by substance use.

“Reach out, find those resources, but don’t just live alone with it and have it eating your life up because it will. I mean if you’re in the family with a person who’s got addiction issues it takes a toll on the entire family and those family members really need support, we all do,” Task Force Chairman David Parkers said.

During the meeting, there was also a discussion on the locally-awarded opioid settlement funds. Members of the task force said that it’s not yet clear how the money is to be spent, but that some of them have begun talks with Jonathan Board, who was recently appointed to West Virginia First , in order to gain more insight on how the funds can be spent.

If you or your family needs help with issues of substance abuse, you can call Essential Community Services at 211, which can link you with a professional who can lend an ear and provide some assistance for individuals and families affected by substance abuse issues.

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