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Teacher and Kids in Library

ABOUT
WV DII

We are a team of dedicated partners and collaborators working together to make an impact.

MISSION & HISTORY.

CHANGING

LIVES.

The mission of the Drug Intervention Institute is to reduce opioid and drug-related deaths by (a) preventing substance use through education (b) reducing overdose through training and distribution related to naloxone and other opioid reversal agents, and, (c) supporting harm reduction and other drug-response efforts.
 

To fulfill its mission, WV DII is carrying out activities under three objectives – education, collaboration, and prevention. 

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The West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute (WV DII) began in May 2019, after nine months of study and deliberation regarding the best ways to reduce opioid drug deaths in West Virginia.  Funding was promised by the Winston-Salem Foundation from a donor-advised fund established by BB&T (now Truist). The founding members of the board interviewed people involved in and concerned about substance abuse, researched response activities elsewhere, identified possible response gaps, developed the Institute concept, and conducted the search for a president. WV DII is an independent 501(C)(3) entity. In addition, the partnership with an academic institution positions the WV DII with the unique ability to conduct research and analysis of program outcomes.

PARTNERS &

COLLABORATORS.

Partnerships and collaborations the WV DII includes working with the following in various capacities:

  • Appalachian Regional Commission

  • Charleston Area Medical Center

  • Community Education Group (CEG)

  • First Choice Services

  • Gibson Gives

  • Great Rivers Regional System for Addiction Care

  • Healing Appalachia and Hope in the Hills

  • Kanawha Charleston Health Department

  • Kanawha Communities that Care (KCTC)

  • Kanawha County Board of Education

  • Marshall University School of Pharmacy

  • Murphy Innovative Solutions & Concepts (MISC)

  • North Dakota State University School of Pharmacy

  • ONEbox LLC

  • Putnam County Board of Education

  • Regional Family Resource Network

  • TEMPO (Training and Empowering Musicians to Prevent Overdose)

  • University of Charleston

  • WV Collegiate Recovery Network

  • WV Hope in Action Alliance 

  • WV Office of Drug Control and Policy

  • WV Public Broadcasting 

  • WV Department of Education

  • WV Department of Health and Human Resources 

  • WV Pharmacists Association 

  • WV Prevention First Network

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BOARD MEMBERS

The WV DII board is comprised of eight voting members and two ex-officio members. 

Voting members:

  • Dr. Edwin H. Welch, Chair of WV DII

  • Mr. Pat Graney

  • Dr. Glenn Crotty 

  • Mr. David Ferretti

  • Mr. John Kennedy

  • Dr. Thomas Menighan

  • Mr. Patrick O'Malley

  • Dr. Martin Roth

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Board Member Emeritus

  • Mr. Holmes Morrison

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Ex officio members:

  • Dr. Susan Bissett, President of WV DII

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