West Virginia is facing a serious problem with drug overdoses. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it had the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country in 2021. There were 90.9 deaths for every 100,000 people.
The main cause of this crisis in West Virginia is the widespread use of opioids, especially synthetic ones like fentanyl. These drugs are often mixed with other substances like heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
In 2021, fentanyl and similar drugs were involved in 76% of all drug overdose deaths in West Virginia, up from 58% in 2017. Deaths related to methamphetamine have also increased significantly, making up 52.2% of drug overdose deaths in 2021, compared to 22.8% in 2017.
Although the drug overdose problem affects every part of West Virginia, some cities are more affected than others. Based on provisional data from the CDC, here are the five cities with the highest number of drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people in West Virginia from July 2020 to July 2021:
| City | Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population (July 2020 – July 2021) | Fentanyl-related deaths (%) |
| Huntington | 144 | 87.5 |
| Charleston | 115.8 | 80.6 |
| Parkersburg | 107.9 | 81.8 |
| Wheeling | 101.8 | 83.3 |
| Martinsburg | 98.4 | 75 |
Huntington: Huntington, the second-biggest city in West Virginia, had the highest number of drug overdose deaths in the state, with 143.9 deaths per 100,000 people.
It’s been facing problems with opioid addiction for a long time and has been called the “overdose capital of America” by some news sources. A large portion of these deaths were due to fentanyl, making up 87.5% of all drug overdoses in the city from July 2020 to July 2021.
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Charleston: Charleston is the biggest city and capital of West Virginia. It’s in Kanawha County. The city had 115.8 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people, which is the second-highest in the state.
Charleston has been dealing with the opioid crisis for a while. From July 2020 to July 2021, 80.6% of all drug overdose deaths in the city were linked to fentanyl.
Parkersburg: In Parkersburg, which is the third-biggest city in West Virginia and the main city in Wood County, there were 107.9 drug overdose deaths for every 100,000 people. This rate is the third-highest in the state. From July 2020 to July 2021, a large majority (81.8%) of all drug overdose deaths in Parkersburg were linked to fentanyl.
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Wheeling: Wheeling, the county seat of Ohio County, had 101.8 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people, making it the fourth-highest in the state. From July 2020 to July 2021, a significant number of drug overdose deaths in Wheeling, about 83.3%, were related to fentanyl.
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Martinsburg: Martinsburg, the fifth-biggest city in West Virginia and the main city in Berkeley County, had 98.4 drug overdose deaths for every 100,000 people, ranking it as the fifth-highest in the state.
There has also been an increase in deaths related to fentanyl in Martinsburg, making up 75% of all drug overdose deaths in the city between July 2020 and July 2021.
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To Conclude
The drug overdose epidemic in West Virginia is a complicated and multifaceted issue that needs a united and cooperative response from all parts of society. Although recent data shows some signs of improvement, there is still a long way to go to completely solve the drug overdose crisis in West Virginia.
The state government, local authorities, healthcare providers, community organizations, and individuals are working together to put various plans and ideas into action to stop, treat, and lessen the harm caused by drug overdoses.
The state and its cities must keep investing in and using effective and innovative plans to prevent, treat, and reduce the harm caused by drug overdoses. The goal is to save lives and bring back hope for the people of West Virginia.
