By EMILY DANIELS
The Journal
MARTINS BURG, W.Va. — By the end of October, heroin and opioid overdose deaths totaled 13 — a number much higher than recent months — but Berkeley County Recovery Services Coordinator Kevin Knowles said he is trying to move forward with positive solutions for the community.
“Unfortunately, we’re looking at some numbers here that are very disturbing for the month of October. We had a total of 53 overdoses in the county with a total of 13 deaths. That is by far the most in one month that we’ve seen,” Knowles said. “We know that it was a bad batch that came in, a bad batch of heroin, so we are working diligently behind the scenes at this point.”
During the month of September, there were 27 overdoses, resulting in 3 deaths. The year to date number for overdoses is 461, while the number of deaths is 62.
Knowles presented this information to the Berkeley County Council during its regular Thursday meeting, and council president Doug Copenhaver said the statistics are “staggering.”
“It’s starting to be the old Wild, Wild West days playing Russian roulette,” Copenhaver said.
Knowles said the numbers were low several months in a row.
“We did see a dip there for a while … but that’s what happens when you get a bad batch,” Knowles said. “Somebody goes to use something, and they’re going to use the same amount they always use, and if it’s a bad batch, it sends them right into an (overdose) and then possible death, so that’s the unfortunate part.”
Of the 13 deaths in October, five of them were in Martinsburg and eight were across Berkeley County.
Knowles said as part of his mission with the Recovery Resource Center, which is located on the lower level of the building on 400 W. Stephen St., is to eventually be able to hold training for naloxone administration.
Naloxone is used to block or reverse effects of opioids.
“I have talked to you in the past about naloxone training. I am certified to give the training, and for me to give the training I would have to have a doctor and a way to get the stuff prescribed,”Knowles said.
“We’re looking hopefully, with your blessing, to move forward and do some training in conjunction with some of the doctors.”
Also during the meeting, Knowles requested funding for staff at the Recovery Resource Center.
Knowles told the board that he has identified some possible grant funding to go toward the salaries of assistants at the Recovery Resource Center.
“(The funding request) was based on talks we’ve had in the past that there’s a possible $100,000 available to help with staffing and some other things within the Recovery Center,” Knowles said.
The board unanimously approved the request, and Knowles plans to put out a grant with Copenhaver’s signature soon.
“In order for him to be successful in the Recovery Resource Center, he has to have the best help he can find and, also, very consistent help,” Copenhaver said.
Council member Elaine Mauck echoed his sentiments.
“I am 100 percent behind it because we have to bring our community back together and get rid of this drug problem and get our workforce moving in the right direction, and this is a step toward doing that,” Mauck said.
According to the request for support, Knowles expects the expenses for staffing to be about $70,000, with an additional $30,000 for capital and start-up expenses for the purchase of equipment, video conferencing equipment, resource materials and furnishings.
In the coming days, Knowles will be hosting events at the Recovery Resources Center including a remembrance program through a Christmas memory tree where people can honor the memory of a loved one lost because of overdose. The event will kickoff today at 2 p.m., but individuals can stop by and add a photo or card to the tree any time throughout the holiday season.
There will also be a physician round table on Friday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
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