IT’S COMPLICATED –
April 23, 2025 – Year-over-year figures for the 12 months ending in November 2024 reveal a 37.7% decline in drug overdose deaths in West Virginia, surpassing the national average decrease of 26.5%. This reduction translates into 468 more people that are alive today, continuing their journey toward recovery and stability.
During the height of the opioid epidemic, the former Department of Health and Human Resources began monitoring the correlation between overdose deaths, and the impact on social services programs. In calendar year 2024, caregiver’s substance use disorder was still the most common reason for removal, but new analysis from the DoHS’ Office of Quality Assurance Programs also shows that children removed only for parental substance use fell 54.5% from 2020 to 2024 and children removed with substance use as a contributing factor fell 39% from its peak in 2017 to 2024.
“These trends reflect the real-life impact of West Virginia’s shift toward recovery-focused, family-centered care,” said Alex Mayer, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services. “When we support parents in their recovery, we’re also protecting children and strengthening families, and that’s a win for everyone.”
