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By JOSELYN KING
For The Times Leader
WHEELING -- A political transition committee is likely to suggest to West Virginia's next governor that he hire a drug czar.
Also, the committee will tell Governor-elect Jim Justice the state's school systems "are in the best position" to formulate strategies to help combat the state's drug epidemic, according to William Ihlenfeld, outgoing U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Ihlenfeld is serving as co-chairman of the Drug Epidemic Transition Committee under Justice. The committee met for the first time earlier this month, and is charged with making recommendations to the new administration on how best to address issues pertaining to drug dependency in the state.
Speaking to Ohio County Board of Education members this week, Ihlenfeld told them the committee likely will recommend school district's take on a leadership role in fighting drug abuse in West Virginia.
"One thing the school board might want to consider is developing a county-wide strategy to address this issue in a way they perhaps haven't have in the past -- and to be a leader amongst all 55 counties…" he said.
"I think -- though it's ultimately going to be up to the governor -- that there is going to be a recommendation that every county develop some kind of a strategy with regard to this issue. Some counties already have some things in place, and some counties aren't doing anything at all. I can see Ohio County being a leader in this area -- as it is in so many other areas."
Ihlenfeld said the most recent data released this month shows West Virginia still leading the nation in its per capita rate of drug overdose deaths, and that the gap is growing between West Virginia and other states.
Prescription pain killers are at the root of West Virginia's drug addiction problem, and these drugs have been flooding into West Virginia's small communities, according to Ihlenfeld. Users next transition to heroin, which can be purchased more cheaply and easily.
But now they have begun to move on to the highly powerful synthetic drug Fentanyl, he said. The drug -- which typically comes from Mexico or China -- is cheap to make and very profitable for those who produce and sell it.
"Keep in mind, 2 milligrams of Fentanyl is enough to be fatal," Ihlenfeld said. "A sugar pack on a table top in a restaurant has about a 1,000 milligrams of sugar. Think about that -- just 2 milligrams of Fentanyl is enough to be fatal."
Prevention and education is the best weapon against drug abuse, he told school officials.
"And the school system is situated better than any other entity in our community to address this issue," he said. "You're very well-situated to make a difference. You might want to come up with a plan of attack in this county."
The committee is going to recommend to Justice that he appoint a drug czar, "someone to oversee this issue statewide seven days a week," according to Ihlenfeld.
Secondly, the committee will suggest school districts utilize their resources to take a lead in the fight against drug addiction.
Ihlenfeld said Ohio County Schools might want to tap someone as the own point of contact on the drug issue, who would help to develop an anti-drug strategy with other key people in the community.
"I wouldn't ask anyone in the school district to do this on their own," he told board members. "I would ask that person in the school system to reach out to people like me, to reach out to people in a substance abuse prevention coalition, and other key people in the community to come up with this strategy. It's not something that is developed overnight….it's something that needs to be considered, fully vetted and discussed to see what works best for Ohio County."