In July 2018, we hosted three community forums in Parkersburg, Belpre, and Marietta exploring what the addiction crisis looks like in the Mid-Ohio Valley, possible causes, and potential solutions. The Valley includes parts of Ohio and West Virginia, which have been ranked as No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation for overdose death rates. In Ohio and West Virginia alone, nearly 5,000 people are dying each year of opioid overdoses.
In order to help their communities navigate this crisis and be part of the solution, journalists from Clutch MOV online news, the Marietta Times, Newstalk 910 WLTP, the Ohio Valley ReSource National Public Radio collaborative, Parkersburg News and Sentinel, WOUB public radio at Ohio University, WMOA, WTAP-TV, and WPKM are working together to listen to stories and answer questions of those experiencing addiction.
Similar to our past events in Central Ohio, we used these questions to guide the conversation:
- What does addiction look like in our community?
- What do you see as causes of the addiction crisis here?
- What steps might we take to combat the addiction crisis?
Below, you’ll find the themes and ideas we heard the most across the events. Visit the community pages (Parkersburg, Belpre, and Marietta) to download the full report of community member responses, questions for journalists, and photos.
Partner Research and Coverage
- Clutch Mov, “Local Forums on Opioids Ahead” – 6/16/2018
- WOUB, “WOUB Participating In News Collaborative Looking To Address Mid-Ohio Valley Opioid Crisis” – 6/17/2018
- The Marietta Times, “Local forums on opioids ahead” – 6/18/2018
- The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, “Collaboration set to tackle Mid-Ohio Valley’s opioid crisis” – 6/18/2018
- The Marietta Times, “Your Voice MOV holds first forum” – 7/16/2018
- The News Center, “Your Voice Ohio project visits Parkersburg” 7/16/2018
- The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, “Technology: Isolation makes addiction hard to fight” – 7/17/2018
- The Parkersburg news and Sentinel, “Second Your Voice MOV forum discusses opioid addictions” – 7/17/2018
- The News Center, “Your Voice Ohio holds final opioid forum in Marietta” 7/18/2018
- The Marietta Times, “Third Your Voice MOV forum held in Marietta” – 7/18/2018
- WOUB, “Your Voice Ohio Collaborative Seeking Solutions To Opioid Crisis” – 8/1/2018