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West Virginia one of 7 states participating in a National Governor’s Association Learning Laboratory on prevention of heroin and fentanyl overdoses

A team from West Virginia—with members representing Governor Tomblin’s office, the Bureaus of Public Health and Behavioral Health and Health Facilities in the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, the WV Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, and the WVU Injury Control Research Center—recently traveled to Newport, Rhode Island to participate in a Learning Lab sponsored by the National Governor’s Association (NGA). The purpose of the Learning Laboratory was for states to share information on overdose prevention efforts, and to learn about Rhode Island’s model overdose prevention program.  The NGA Learning Lab—entitled “State Strategies for Reducing Overdose and Deaths from Heroin and Illicit Fentanyl”—also included a team from the host state Rhode Island, along with teams from Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  Members of the WV Team for the 2-day Learning Lab included:  Joseph Garcia, Director of Legislative Affairs in Governor Tomblin’s Office; John Yauch, Director of the WV Violence and Injury Prevention Program in the BPH; Kimberly Walsh, Deputy Commissioner of the BBHHF; Charity Sayre, Justice Reinvention Coordinator in the WV Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety; Matthew Izzo, Administrator of the WV Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; and Herb Linn, Deputy Director of the West Virginia University Injury Control Research Center.