CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller has asked the White House to direct more federal resources to Wyoming County to help fight prescription drug abuse.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller has asked the White House to direct more federal resources to Wyoming County to help fight prescription drug abuse.
The West Virginia Democrat wrote last week to Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske, asking for information on how Wyoming County can be designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
The designation would give local police more resources to fight prescription drug abuse and help them to better coordinate with other agencies. Wyoming County has one of the nation's highest per capita drug-related death rates, Rockefeller wrote.
"The White House has taken critical steps to fight prescription drug abuse, which has reached epidemic levels in West Virginia and Wyoming County," he said in a statement. "These designations are vital to helping our hardest hit communities access the resources they need to combat abuse, and I hope that Wyoming County will receive full consideration."
Last month, Putnam and Mercer counties were added to the nation's HDTA list.
Other West Virginia counties with the HIDTA designation are: Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mingo and Wayne.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller has asked the White House to direct more federal resources to Wyoming County to help fight prescription drug abuse.
The West Virginia Democrat wrote last week to Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske, asking for information on how Wyoming County can be designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
The designation would give local police more resources to fight prescription drug abuse and help them to better coordinate with other agencies. Wyoming County has one of the nation's highest per capita drug-related death rates, Rockefeller wrote.
"The White House has taken critical steps to fight prescription drug abuse, which has reached epidemic levels in West Virginia and Wyoming County," he said in a statement. "These designations are vital to helping our hardest hit communities access the resources they need to combat abuse, and I hope that Wyoming County will receive full consideration."
Last month, Putnam and Mercer counties were added to the nation's HDTA list.
Other West Virginia counties with the HIDTA designation are: Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mingo and Wayne.
