In the last six years, 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills were shipped to West Virginia, coal country of the United States, according to an investigation by the Charleston Gazette-Mail. In a state of 1.84 million people, that is about 423 opioid pills per man, woman, and child.
Two groups of people in West Virginia are hit the hardest – coal miners and 19- to 25-year-olds.
Coal mining makes up 18,000 jobs, requiring heavy manual labor. Heavy manual labor makes workers more susceptible to injuries that would put them out of a job. As injury rates go up, so do the prescription drug use rates. This means painkillers such as hydrocodone and oxycodone are prescribed. This is considered an easy fix so that miners can go back to work.
Current usage rates for 19- to 25-year-olds account for 12.56 of every 100,000 youths, according to Trust for America’s Health.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sent previously confidential reports to West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey that disclosed how many pills were being sold and shipped to pharmacies in the 55 counties of West Virginia by drug wholesalers such as:
- McKesson Corp.
- Cardinal Health
- AmerisourceBergen Drug Co.
These three companies are considered to be the “big three” of the drug wholesalers in the United States. Many drug wholesalers blame doctors and pharmacists for putting the pain pills in the hands of addicts or dealers, saying they are just the middleman of the operation.
“All parties including pharmacies, doctors, hospitals, manufacturers, patients, and state officials share the responsibility to fight opioid abuse,” said Ellen Barry, a spokeswoman for Cardinal Health. Cardinal Health has started taking measures by installing a “rigorous control process in place to address the constantly changing tactics” of people trying to divert drugs.
Between 2007 and 2017, death caused by overdose increased by 67 percent. In 2014, West Virginia had the highest drug overdose death rate in America. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, four counties in West Virginia lead the nation in fatal overdoses caused by pain pills, where smaller drug stores were ordering the most from drug wholesalers.
- Wyoming County
- McDowell County
- Boone County
- Mingo County
Two other counties in West Virginia – Mercer and Raleigh – rank in the top 10 counties for fatal overdoses, with Lincoln, Fayette, and Monroe following in the top 20.
There are many ways to combat drug usage in West Virginia, like medical withdrawal management services. If you or a family member needs helps with a drug usage problem, consider Break Thru.
Combat drug usage with withdrawal management service, Break Thru
Break Thru is Reynolds Memorial Hospital's medical withdrawal management service for individuals who are in imminent or active early withdrawal from alcohol or drug abuse, who typically stay for three days.
Patients are cared for in private rooms within the hospital so that the physical symptoms of withdrawal are medically supervised. This increases safety, comfort, and confidentiality. This service is covered by most healthcare insurance providers and Medicare and Medicaid.
BreakThru is not a walk-in facility.
To schedule your Break Thru admission or for more information about the program, call 304-221-4528.