STATE, COMMUNITY COMBAT DRUG ABUSE

CHARLESTON (AP) - The West Virginia Prevention Resource Center is teaming
up with a pharmaceutical company to establish a prescription drug abuse
prevention project in Mingo, Logan and Wyoming counties. The agency and
Purdue Pharma are working with STOP, a nonprofit community-based
organization in southern West Virginia.

Purdue has provided a $126,000 grant to help fund a community-based
awareness and education program. The program will provide training and
technical assistance, increase awareness of prescription drug abuse and
measure the effect of the local efforts.

Mingo, Logan and Wyoming counties were chosen for the pilot project because
they have all experienced significant problems with prescription drug abuse
during the past several years.