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WHEELING -- The Community Impact Coalition has been fighting an uphill battle against drug abuse in the Ohio Valley since 2005.
Last year alone, the organization collected 439 pounds of unused or expired prescription drugs, saw hundreds of people trained in the use of the life-saving drug naloxone and made available more than 350 volunteers who gave 5,410 hours of support to the war on drugs.
The coalition continues the fight while West Virginia leads the nation in the rate of drug overdose deaths.
On Tuesday morning, coalition members and supportive community members and clergy held a press conference at its home base at the Youth Services System facility in East Wheeling to bring awareness to the third annual West Virginia Day of Hope slated for Sept. 17. On this day, faith-based congregations and clergy are asked to include special prayers during services or even hold specific prayer services to shed a greater light on the problem of drug addiction in the Ohio Valley.
A litany of prayers for the Day of Hope has been authored and is available to anyone wishing to participate. Martha Polinsky and Lori Garrett-Bumba are program and project coordinator, respectively, for the Community Impact Coalition.
Garrett-Bumba encouraged faith-based groups to come together, hold meetings, offer prevention programs, give comfort and celebrate those in recovery. Polinsky thanked the many volunteers and coalition members who continue to work toward educating and preventing drug abuse, especially among youth.
Mayor Glenn Elliott said when he became mayor, he had no idea how serious the drug issue was in Wheeling, but has realized the city has to be more involved in the battle.
"We have to be at the table. We are looking at ways such as funding for the police department, two new positions. One is to collect real time data that will allow us to apply for grants," Elliott said.
Elliott said a grant could fund a position for a drug interventionist that could steer an addict to recovery rather than jail.
Councilwoman Wendy Scatterday said she agrees council needs more involvement.
"I'm committed, as a unified entity, on this matter. We need to see how we can partner to change lives," she said.
Retired Lutheran bishop Ralph Dunkin said last year, the United States saw 1,000 people die each week from drug overdoses.
"Now is the time for faith communities to teach prevention and be present for families. We need to practice what we preach, to transform lives," Dunkin said.
The Rev. Joel Richter, pastor at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheeling, knows addiction as he acknowledged his own battle with alcoholism. He said the social stigma associated with addiction keeps many people from talking about it, and he urged others to address it from the pulpit and to pray.
"Through this program I've learned a different interviewing technique for talking to people with addiction. There is a huge stigma attached to addiction, but this is a disease. They are sick people needing help. Many of us want help and don't know where to get it," Richter said.
Polinsky thanked local resident Bill Hogan for "getting the ball rolling" for the Day of Hope as he contacted clergy around the state to take up the cause. She said anyone wanting more information about the Community Impact Coalition, copies of the litany of prayers or ideas for getting involved, can call her at (304) 233-2045.
(Ziegler can be contacted at hziegler@theintelligencer.net)