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Volunteers sought to distribute substance abuse information

Times West Virginian - 7/3/2017

July 03--FAIRMONT -- In West Virginia, drug overdose deaths have been steadily increasing over the past several years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overdose deaths have risen from 570 in 2013, to 627 in 2014, and in the most recent CDC report, 725 in 2015.

The Marion County Family Resource network is hoping to change that.

"Economically, we are in a much worse situation than most of the United States," director Frank Jarman said. "Those pressures that come when you don't have money to pay your bill, to support your family, you'll turn to whatever can give you some relief. For too many people that's drugs."

The Family Resource Network formed the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition with the goal of connecting real people in the community with services to help fight drug addiction.

"Two years ago we saw that there were large substance abuse prevention meetings being held across the region," Jarman said. "Social workers were there, doctors were there, but who wasn't there was everyday people."

By going door to door and handing out resource directories, the Family Resource Network hopes that it will help those in need of help or with loved ones in need of help get assistance for their substance abuse problem. Now that they have made their way through Rivesville, Fairview and other outlying towns, they are turning their sights on Fairmont.

In the time the Family Resource Network has been operating this program, it has knocked on about 1,200 doors, and have only encountered one individual that did not want the information, Jarman said.

"When we knock on doors and nobody is home, we'll leave a packet on their door so they're still getting it and getting an invitation to our small community meeting," Jarman said.

In addition to substance abuse resources, the packet also includes information for those who need help paying their bills, finding mental health experts, finding legal help and a variety of other services.

The Family Resource Network will have three door-to-door outreach days on the West Side of Fairmont this summer, and Jarman is looking for volunteers. The first will be canvassing the Maple Avenue/Jackson Addition on July 11; the second will be in Bellview July 18; and the last will be in the downtown area near the courthouse on Aug 1. Jarman is asking that volunteers apply via email at marionpip@gmail.com by Wednesday.

These door-to-door outreach activities are in preparation for a community meeting Aug. 15 in which local medical professionals and substance abuse experts will discuss the substance abuse issues facing the Fairmont community and take questions from community members.

Steve Shine, chief of police for Fairmont, said that the program is good at getting information out to the loved ones of those with substance abuse problems. He also said that he would like to see more drug addiction treatment facilities in the states and advocates for drug diversion programs for minor crimes.

"I think Marion County wants help, and people are ready for a change," Jarman said. "They're ready to see improvement, and we're seeing some, but it can always be better."

Email Carter Walker at cwalker@timeswv.com.

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