The opioid crisis has profoundly impacted West Virginia, where over 780 million doses of opioids were distributed between 2007 and 2012, leading to 1,728 fatal overdoses. The crisis has resulted in severe socioeconomic consequences, including 84% of children in foster care due to parental substance use disorders and an annual economic loss of $8.8 billion, surpassing 12% of the state's GDP. The document argues for treatment and prevention as more cost-effective alternatives to criminal justice responses.

1. Socioeconomics Of A Crisis
The Opioid Epidemic
Eric Dentler, May 2018

2. “The opioid crisis is a story of colossal,
collective failure—an epidemic that no one
fully understood until it was too late.”
Source: Fortune magazine June 2017.

3. Ground Zero -
A Closer Look At
West Virginia

4. Between 2007 and 2012, industry
distributors sent over 780 million
Oxy and Hydrocodone doses (pill
form of heroin) into West Virginia.
Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail 2017.

6. That’s roughly 433 pills for every
man, woman and child in the state.
Source: Congressional investigators.

7. In those five years, 1,728
West Virginians fatally overdosed
on those two drugs.

8. As availability to pain pills decreased
and opiate cravings increased, many
people switched to heroin.

9. Regional gangs and local drug dealers
moved in to fill demand.

10. The full impact on families,
the economy and serious crime
is becoming clear.

11. The impact on children is “stunning”.
- Bill Crouch, WV. State secretary,
Health and Human Resources, May 2018

12. “84% of children have been placed
in foster care because one or both
parents have a substance use disorder.”

13. The economic costs are
“mind boggling”
and draining state finances.

14. WV. loses $8.8 billion each year from
the opioid crisis, representing greater
than 12% of state GDP.
Ohio ranks second, with over 5% of GDP.

15. Spiraling Down

16. Growth In Serious Crime 2016 to 2017
Source: West Virginia News
• Murder 76%
• Aggravated Assault 28%
• Rape 24%

17. Responding To The Crisis

18. “I am convinced that going through the criminal
justice system is much, much more expensive than
going through the treatment and prevention
alternative.” 12/2017

19. Measuring
Opportunity
Costs
Source: WV. University

20. by Eric Dentler
LinkedIn “theenvoy”
edentler@gmail
Thank you!