Nasal Narcan, used to reverse an overdose, stock the inside of a harm reduction vending machine. (Isiah Holmes | Wisconsin Examiner)
West Virginia began distributing opioid settlement money at the end of 2023 . Since then, counties across the state have been opening the door for applications and approving funds. The opioid settlement money was supposed to be used for substance use treatment, recovery and prevention programs, or supporting law enforcement in anti-drug measures . However, a look at recent city council and county commission meetings is showing us that the funds are not always going where they should.
In Jackson County, West Virginia for example, the county commission voted to spend $566,000 for a law enforcement training center, which included $300,000 for a new shooting range. Is law enforcement planning to use force against people who use drugs in Jackson County? Why else would they need a new shooting range? What does this have to do with the overdose crisis?
Furthermore, in Wheeling, the city council approved $584,000 for law enforcement— including the purchase of ATVs to better hunt down unhoused people who use drugs. Neither Jackson or Ohio County has approved that level of funding for recovery or prevention efforts yet seeing as how Jackson County gave a measly $35,000 to the local Quick Response Team.
Kanawha County started off on a better track, however their recent decision to set aside $1.4 million for an emergency radio system is not in line with how the opioid settlement money should be spent. The Kanawha County Commission received over 40 applications for opioid settlement funding, yet they have only gone over and approved three applications. Funds have been approved for Rea of Hope, the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home and Union Mission Ministries.
Many applicants are seeking funding for legitimate purposes relating to the Memorandum of Understanding provided by the West Virginia First Foundation that outlines the criteria for the opioid settlement money in the state. How many of those organizations are actually going to get funding for those purposes?
It’s hard to tell when the county commission will consider applications for funding because they no longer place them on the agendas for commission meetings. Rather, they are being privately vetted first and organizations are then contacted about consideration of their application. It is only then that organizations know if their applications are being considered and they have the chance to answer questions and make a public comment, according to county officials. This is not a good start regarding transparency, which is what the Kanawha County Commission wanted from the West Virginia First Foundation.
Just recently, my local harm reduction group Project Mayday submitted an application requesting $5,000 for overdose response kits and were subsequently denied without the opportunity to meet with the commission and with no reason as to why we were denied. When county officials were asked why the group was denied, they responded saying they could not offer any other explanation than what was in the denial letter. Other organizations are also receiving denial letters even though they are providing frontline services that meet the criteria for opioid settlement money.
We are not heading in the right direction in West Virginia regarding the opioid settlement money, and multiple municipalities have already proven that. If we continue to fund the war on drugs by giving money to law enforcement instead of harm reduction, recovery and prevention services, people will continue to die. This money is meant to alleviate the harms caused by the war on drugs and the overdose crisis — not perpetuate it.
What is even more frustrating is that when law enforcement requests funds they are not put under the same scrutiny as organizations seeking funds for legitimate purposes. It seems that organizations that are ready and willing to make a difference will continue to face multiple barriers. Furthermore, when the overdose crisis continues, it will be the same government officials that blame the organizations for their policy failures.
There is no doubt that stigma against people who use drugs is at the forefront of this issue. The hatred and vitriol that is aimed at people who use drugs is overwhelming in West Virginia. Yes, we have come a long way regarding our approach to substance use and recovery, but we still have a long way to go regarding stigma towards people who actively use drugs and how they are treated.
Harm reduction is still very criminalized and restricted in the state — contributing to a rise in HIV and hepatitis C infections across the state. Overdose deaths have apparently dropped since 2023 , but we have still lost over 100,000 people to overdose. That is unacceptable and it is not a time to celebrate. While politicians and policy makers scream out in joy over this news, those of us who are working the front lines know better. Harm reductionists across the state see first-hand the effects of the war on drugs and how difficult it is to provide much needed, evidence-based services to people who use drugs.
The opioid settlement money could provide an immense number of resources and supplies to help save lives. But it doesn’t seem like that is what is going to happen. Lawmakers and law enforcement are going to continue to ignore what is truly needed to gain a reprieve from the overdose crisis and provide funding for services that are not needed. If Kanawha County really wanted to use the opioid settlement money wisely, they would fund naloxone vending machines or boxes, harm reduction efforts, housing services and more. Giving more money to cops is not going to save lives.
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