United Way of the River Cities

Annual Drug Prevention Summit

CCSAPP has sponsored an annual Drug Prevention Summit every year since 2006. 

• November 2006 – The first summit brought together representatives from 12 sectors of the community (prevention, treatment, law enforcement, education, social services, faith communities, media, elected officials, courts, corrections, youth and community at large). Each sector engaged in a facilitated discussion and identified the most important issues regarding substance abuse from their perspective and potential solutions. The sectors then reported their findings to the group at large.
• November  2007 – The second summit focused on the community environment and its influence on youth.  Cabell County youth presented their findings through photographs taken throughout the county.  Carla Lapelle, Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Marshall University, presented a workshop on prevention strategies that target the local conditions that contribute to youth substance abuse.
• January 2009 – Fran Harding, the director of the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, presented the keynote address at the Third Annual Cabell Drug Prevention Summit. Harding spoke about prevention principles and how they best applied to preventing prescription drug abuse. This summit also featured Dr. Michael O’Neil, a pharmacy professor at the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy and Chair of the WV Controlled Substances Advisory Board. Dr. O’Neil presented on the contributing factors to the prevalence of prescription drug abuse in West Virginia.
• January 2010 – Prescription drug abuse was the primary topic of discussion during the fourth summit and local experts served as panelists. Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook addressed the challenges to local law enforcement caused by prescription drug abuse. Bob Hansen, director of Prestera Center, described the impact of prescription drug addiction in the treatment realm. Family Court Judge Patricia Keller spoke of the impact on families caused by prescription drug addiction. Dr. Andy Whisman, epidemiologist with the WV Prevention Resource Center, discussed prevention strategies to reduce and prevent prescription drug abuse and misuse among youth. Evan Jenkins, executive director of the WV State Medical Association, the state’s largest physician membership organization, and as a member of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources, discussed legislative policies that are being considered to curb prescription drug abuse. Dr. Mike O’Neil, a pharmacy professor at the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy and Chair of the WV Controlled Substances Advisory Board, spoke about the issues from a pharmacist’s perspective.
• March 2011 – The theme of this summit was adolescent mental health and substance use. Dr. Jason Kilmer, a research scientist from the University of Washington, presented findings on the effects of drugs and alcohol on the adolescent brain. Local experts presented in a panel discussion regarding local services and programs for youth affected by substance abuse. Panelists included: Mindy Wass, assistant director of children’s services at Prestera Center; Andrea Darr, coordinator for Drug Endangered Children; Karen Yost, Riverfront Park Hospital; Dan Napier, Robert Shell Center; Judge Patricia Keller, Juvenile Drug Court; and Bill Webb, Oasis Behavioral Health.

For more information on hosting a prescription drug abuse prevention meeting for your community/social group or to find out how you can take the next steps to prevent prescription drug abuse in your home and community, please contact:

Anne McGee, Project Director
(304) 523-8929 ext. 5
anne.mcgee@unitedwayrivercities.org

Michelle Perdue, Project Coordinator
(304) 523-8929 ext. 9
michelle.perdue@unitedwayrivercities.org