About ODCP

In 2017, West Virginia Legislators passed House Bill 2620, the West Virginia Drug Control Policy Act, creating the Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) within the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), formerly a part of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR).​ The purpose of this policy is to improve drug overdose surveillance and help strengthen the response. The policy enacted the creation of a central repository that stores drug overdose information, making drug overdoses a notifiable condition and placing limits on opioid prescribing. This proposal builds upon West Virginia’s efforts to access complete and timely data while providing support to state and community professionals to inform the scope of the epidemic and assist in targeting prevention and response efforts. 

ODCP MISSION

• ​ODCP is tasked with leading the statewide response to the substance use disorder crisis by developing strategies related to the prevention, treatment, and the overall reduction of substance use disorder.
• One of the ODCP’s chief responsibilities, as defined in the W. Va. Code (§16-5T-2), is to develop a strategic plan to reduce the prevalence of substance use disorder, overdose fatalities, and smoking.
• ODCP is the central repository for all Overdose Data in West Virginia.
  

​Change at a system level is not always simple and can take a significant amount of time and effort to properly amend and implement. ODCP encourages collaborations among public and private, state and local, agencies, organizations, and service providers, and monitors related programs. ODCP is strategically positioned to collaborate closely with other state agencies who address SUD including, the Department of Health Services' Bureau for Public Health (BPH), the Department of Human Services' ​Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH), and Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) to ensure that policies align with overall goals of reducing harm and overdoses, to prevent duplication of services, and to braid funding, increasing efficiency and consistency. ODCP also works closely with the Department of Homeland Security (Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation), Department of Education, Workforce WV, among many others.

​The ODCP is required to, among o​ther things, observe programs in other states to make recommendations, provide training, technical assistance and consultation to local service providers. Because the substance use disorder (SUD) epidemic is constantly evolving, best practices and evidence-based programs must be utilized to meet the need. Treatment and recovery bed capacity remain a priority. Each wave of the overdose epidemic has brought about a corresponding wave in response. Community assets expand to include a multitude of best practices and evidence-based programs that span the continuum of care to screen and catch individuals sooner, intervene before an overdose occurs, allow immediate access to diverse treatments, and support individuals throughout the recovery process. ​

The ODCP is mandated by code to develop a strategic plan to reduce the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse and smoking, and monitor, coordinate and oversee the collection of data and issues related to drug, alcohol and tobacco access, SUD policies and smoking cessation and prevention and their impact on state and local programs. ODCP is committed to innovation and the use of data to drive programming. Timely data allows ODCP to connect projects, programs, and people to a common purpose with information that is relevant and specific to West Virginia. New initiatives are constantly being developed​ as a result of strategic planning, timely data, and an increasing focus on outcomes. Community supports that connect diverse groups and individuals to meaningful employment, education, and opportunity are the focus of our efforts.