Abuse and addiction involving illegal and prescription drugs, alcolhol and tobacco are invovled in virtually every domestic problem in the state of West Virginia and throughout the nation. These include, crime, cancer, heart disease, lun disease, AIDS, cirrhosis, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, chronic welfare, learning disabilities, conduct disorders, poor school performance and many others.

In an effort to combat these social issues, the Tyler County Prevention Partnership Team has been formed and will hold a community meeting at the library on the campus of Tyler Consolidated High School at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 24.

The ultimate goal of this community discussion and others that are being planned in the coming months, is to consider individual, organizational and commuity responses to the growing epidemic of subsrance abuse in Tyler County.

Two areas of focus are how the community can held law enforcement and prevention measures that can be implemented with little financial burden.

Nearly every ector of society spends hefty sums cleaning up the wreckage caused by substance abuse. According to a report released by the WV Prevention Resource Center, the burden that substance abuse imposes on the public programs is estimated at nearly 96 cents of every dollar. The regulation of substances and enforcement of laws accounts for only two cents per dollar. Prevention and treatment accounts for only two cents per dollar.