In Around West Virginia: four WV counties lead the nation in prescription drug overdose deaths, WVU advanced practice nurses to serve uninsured West Virginians, and a Princeton teen diagnosed with pediatric cancer.
n Four southern West Virginia counties - Wyoming, McDowell, Boone and Mingo - were ranked No. 1 through No. 4 among counties with the most prescription drug overdose deaths, according to a DrugAbuse.com report. The Register-Herald reports that three of the counties - Wyoming, Summers and Lincoln - in a list of 30 counties with the highest prescription drug overdoses death rates have no drug treatment facilities. According to Help4WV, 17 counties in the state offer no drug treatment or recovery services.
n WVU advanced-practice nursing students will begin working with underserved populations at two free health clinics, Wheeling HealthRight and Milan Puskar HealthRight, and in the Eastern Panhandle, according to the State Journal. Between 25 and 60 students will serve their practicums in those areas. The project is supported by a $1.2 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
n A Princeton teen, Lindsey Varney, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of pediatric cancer, according to the Princeton Times. Varney, who celebrates her 15th birthday next week, has a Glioma tumor on her brain. Her classmates wore gray to honor her on Thursday. A GoFundMe has also been established.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.