‘It’s really important for us to be here, to be visible, to be vocal about our recovery’

Brian Dotson stands by the art he made as a part of an artist residency program for formerly incarcerated artists in recovery at Recovery Advocacy Day at the West Virginia Legislature on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 in Charleston, W.Va. The residency is a partnership between Youth Services System Recovery Homes and Uplift West Virginia. (Lori Kersey | West Virginia Watch)

For Nic Cochran, Monday’s trip to West Virginia’s statehouse was about visibility and representation as much as it was about advocating for laws and policy.

As a member of the recovery committee — both by profession and in his personal experience — Cochran said he and others have a unique outlook on life that most people don’t understand and are not comfortable about because of the stigma around addiction.

“I think it’s really important for us to be here, to be visible, to be vocal about our recovery,” Cochran said.

Cochran, who works for Youth Services System recovery homes in Wheeling, was one of an estimated 300 people representing addiction treatment providers, sober living homes, managed care organizations and others who took part in Recovery Advocacy Day at the Capitol. The event is organized by the West Virginia Association of Addiction and Prevention Professionals.

Cochran said he wants lawmakers to know that people in recovery are just that — people with jobs and families.

“We are unique individuals with our own lived experience and we need support,” Cochran said. “Our state was flooded with drugs. We were targeted by opioid manufacturers, and while they have been held responsible financially, we have not been given the support we need by and large.”

Addiction continues to be criminalized, and people with addiction continue to be punished for crimes associated with that addiction instead of receiving rehabilitation and treatment services, Cochran said.

“I serve on treatment teams at the federal court and the state drug court level, and we see that when we invest in people, they get better. They get better,” he said. “They can arrest the disease of addiction, and go on to live healthy, happy, productive lives. So more support for that is really what we want.”

Recovery Advocacy Day is also a chance for members of the organization to talk with lawmakers about legislative priorities for the session.

Among the bills the Association of Addiction and Prevention Professionals is supporting this year is Senate Bill 475 , which would require that recovery residences register with the state Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification.

“We need to be able to police our own bad actors,” said Joe Deegan, public policy chair for the Association. “…There are people who are coming in, they’re not following the rules, and that’s what gets the Legislature all worked up… So we’ve got to be able to police our own.”

The Senate passed the bill unanimously late last month. It’s so far pending in the House Health Committee.

Having recovery homes register with the state would mean that even the “bad actors” would register, he said.

“Then you have a way of tracking outcomes,” he said. “They would have to report…  And so we support that bill. The fee’s a little steep for each recovery home but we’re trying to whittle that down. But it’s the first time we’ve had a bill that we’re not fighting. We’re working with it.”

Deegan said the association is also pushing for House Bill 4593 , which would impose a number of bylaws on the West Virginia First Foundation, a nonprofit that will allocate an expected $1 billion in opioid settlements to programs and communities across the state in an attempt to quell the ongoing drug and overdose epidemic. The bill would require the organization to be subject to the open Governmental Proceedings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

“Basically, we want transparency,” Deegan said. “That’s what we’re asking for.”

The First Foundation first met in November in a meeting that seemed initially planned to be held in private, without public notice. The foundation announced the meeting only after media reports about the meeting were published.

“We don’t want to beat up on people too much, but there’s been a lack of understanding what is going on,” Deegan said. “Ever since before they got the announcement of people on the board, and even since it’s been a struggle. I think they’re getting better. But I really think a piece of legislation to hold their feet to the fire would be a good thing.”

Deegan said the opioid settlement money should go to the entire continuum of care for substance use disorder.

“[It should be put to] making sure that there are programs for continuous engagement, and funding in programs for people who are homeless and need to have the ability to have access to care — a whole wide range,” he said.

The association is opposing House Bill 4793 , which would legalize the production of 25 gallons of distilled spirits for personal consumption, up to 50 gallons per household.

The House of Delegates passed the bill with a 49-48 vote . The legislation was pending in the Senate’s Government Organization committee Monday.

Deegan said he’s concerned that legalizing producing moonshine for personal use will lead to it being in the wrong hands.

“There’s already enough access to alcohol,” Deegan said. “They’ve passed bills in the last couple of years. It’s disturbing to be able to make 50 gallons. That’s a gallon a week of moonshine for personal consumption. I think that sets a dangerous precedent.”

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