Bringing all the players to the table: the West Virginia Controlled Substance Advisory Board

Abuse and diversion of controlled substances are well-known problems in West Virginia and nationally. The costs to our society in both dollars and human capital are substantial. These problems touch groups as diverse as law enforcement, medical professionals, government leaders, addiction specialists, pain specialists, social workers, educators and regulatory boards, among others. The issues these groups face are varied and often unique to each profession, often resulting in a lack of communication and collaboration. This problem has been compounded by the fact that each group often makes decisions based on independent data related to substance abuse and diversion, which historically have not been shared due to privacy and other concerns. The West Virginia Controlled Substance Advisory Board was created to address these and other issues involved in drug diversion and substance abuse in West Virginia.