Governor Unveils Substance Abuse Plan

The West Virginia Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being said Monday that it is recommending the state spend $23.5 million annually on substance abuse prevention.

The board's strategy comes from a call by Gov. Joe Manchin to coordinate efforts to reduce drug and alcohol abuse in the state. Manchin told the Associated Press that he's making it his highest priority.

Among the proposals:

-- Establish community groups in all 55 counties to organize local solutions and channel funding.

-- Require all secondary schools in WV to conduct surveys every two years to gather data on substance abuse.

The governor's plan came from a drug summit that he held with state and local officials, including from the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition, on Monday in Charleston. The two-day Share the Vision conference is Tuesday and Wednesday.