Room to Grow

While others debate the uses of the Mountain State’s abundant natural resources, the West Virginia Army National Guard is taking action and paving the way to community and economic invigoration through the use of reclaimed post-mine land.

The Cost of Addiction: An Economic Burden for West Virginia

In 2008, West Virginia had the highest rate of deaths related to prescription drug overdoses in the United States. The Mountain State and the surrounding region have led national trends concerning prescription drug abuse and misuse, and while the physical and mental aspects have been devastating, prescription drugs are costing more than lives. The economic burden incurred by West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky due to the criminal justice costs, loss in worker productivity and treatment totals $2.72 billion annually. Nationally, the loss of productivity, premature death, unemployment and incarcerated individuals comes at a price tag of $42 billion every year.