WINFIELD -- Groups and individuals from Putnam County came together this month to help make Putnam County an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Parents Against Addiction, Putnam County Schools, Putnam On Wellness and the Youth Wellness Task Team of the Regional Family Resource Network, Drug Endangered Children Professionals, and other individuals planned and participated in Putnam County's 2009 Drug Summit earlier in October.

"It only made sense to get everyone together at one time, in one place," said Danielle Gillispie, drug prevention and education coordinator for Putnam County Schools. "Bill O'Dell and I spent an entire day in September going from meeting to meeting all over the county. Each of the groups addressed some aspect of substance abuse."

Bill O'Dell, a community development specialist for the WV Prevention Resource Center, explains the necessity of getting groups that focus on single issues to come together and take a comprehensive approach. "All of the these folks absolutely care about our community and want to make positive changes in Putnam County," O'Dell said. "Substance abuse is something that affects every segment of our society, and it's important that we implement solutions that include a complete spectrum of care including prevention, early intervention, recovery and treatment."

According to information from the WV Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being, the direct and indirect cost of substance abuse in our state is nearly $2 billion annually. That equates to $63.4 million for Putnam County residents or the equivalent of $1,143 for every man, woman and child living in Putnam County.

Elected officials, county groups, and other interested and knowledgeable individuals were invited and came together on Oct. 13 to kick off collaborative planning. Summit participants agreed that together they could make a larger impact on the challenges the county faces. Major challenges identified included: lack of coordination between groups; lack of knowledge of what everyone else in the room does; lack of parent involvement and awareness; and availability of prescription medications.

"The October Drug Summit was an excellent first step," said Michele Baranaskas, executive director of the Regional Family Resource Center of Boone, Kanawha, and Putnam counties. "We need to continue to build a good knowledge base for all Putnam County residents so we can truly make an impact on substance abuse in the county."

Gillispie and O'Dell say plans are underway for a Putnam Drug Forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Putnam County Board of Education Office in Winfield.

Additional information is available by contacting Gillispie at 304-586-0500, ext. 152, or O'Dell at 304-553-1186.

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Photo courtesy of the Regional Family Resource Network

A variety of professsionals came together on Oct. 13 for Putnam County's 2009 Drug Summit. Pictured are, front row: Sheila Martin, founder of Parents Against Addictions; Danielle Gillispie, Putnam County Schools coordinator of drug prevention and education; Michele Baranaskas, executive director of Regional Family Resource Network. Second row: Will Jordan, Putnam County law enforcement officer; Bill O'Dell, WV Prevention Resource Center community development specialist.

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