Dr. Rahul Gupta, a former top state health official in West Virginia who is the White House drug czar, will be traveling to the Mountain State beginning Tuesday to meet with those on the frontlines of the overdose epidemic.
Gupta, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, will highlight President Joe Biden’s national drug control strategy and discuss barriers that have been removed for substance use disorder care, according to a news release from Gupta’s office.
A former commissioner of the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health and state health officer, Gupta also led the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department during the West Virginia water crisis in 2014.
During his trip, Gupta will participate in a question-and-answer session from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Charleston. He will join University of Charleston President Martin Roth for a discussion about beating the overdose epidemic.
Here are other events on Gupta’s schedule:
Wednesday, Aug. 17, Charleston
10:30 a.m. to noon - High Intensive Drug Trafficking Areas Roundtable. He will meet with law enforcement officers on the frontlines of the epidemic.
1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. – Gupta will attend the Dr. Rahul Gupta Public Health Merit award ceremony. The award is given for outstanding or meritorious service in the public health field.
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Recovery-ready workplace roundtable discussion that will include Appalachian Regional Commission, West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy and the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
Thursday, Aug. 18, Hurricane, Charleston, Huntington
9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. – Gupta will join U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., at a roundtable discussion with the Putnam Wellness Coalition and a Drug Free Communities Coalition.
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Gupta will attend a roundtable on the state of the overdose epidemic with multiple people, including Manchin and local business, faith, health and law enforcement leaders.
1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Gupta will ride along with a Quick Response Team, whose members assist people with recovery support when they have experienced an overdose.
2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. – Gupta will attend a Provider Response Organization for Addiction Care and Treatment and Marshall Health event.