Still Losing War on Drugs – Wheeling Intelligencer

Tests to determine the cause of Valerie Williams death were being conducted this week. Can there be any reasonable doubt the 25-year-old Wellsburg womans life was claimed, directly or indirectly, by the drug abuse scourge in our states?

Williams was arrested about a week ago in Jefferson County, on driving-related and drug charges. She had cocaine, heroin, a crack pipe and a hypodermic needle with her.

So, when she was taken to the Jefferson County jail, she was placed in a detoxification program immediately. Sheriff Fred Abdalla said she had been taking appropriate medicine every day.

Yet on Friday night, her cellmate discovered her lifeless body.

Precisely what killed her will be determined by various tests. It is virtually inconceivable illegal drugs did not play some part in her demise.

Illegal drugs are killing thousands of West Virginians and Ohioans every year. The crisis has mushroomed to such an extent in the Buckeye State that earlier this year, some county coroners reported it had caused them to run out of room to store bodies.

Both our states are in the top five of those with the most drug overdose deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. West Virginia is well in the lead, with an annual count of 41.5 overdose deaths per 100,000 in population. Ohio is four, at 29.9 (others in the top five are Kentucky, New Hampshire and Rhode Island).

Law enforcement officials in both our states have mounted all-out offensives against drug dealers. Legislators are providing more money for treatment to help addicts.

Consider Williams case. Here was a young woman who, thanks to being arrested, was getting help for her addiction. Yet, at just 25 years of age, it probably killed her.

Obviously, were not winning the war on drugs.

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Still Losing War on Drugs - Wheeling Intelligencer