Shepherd Joins Program to Combat Drug Abuse in At-Risk Families

Shepherd University is partnering with Berkeley County Schools and the Martinsburg Police Department to help combat opioid addiction. A new initiative hopes to identify basic causes of drug abuse in at-risk families.

It’s called The Martinsburg Initiative. It’s based on a Centers for Disease Control study that shows when children have adverse childhood experiences, like exposure to drugs and alcohol, it can have a major impact on their physical and mental developmental health.

The Martinsburg Police Department and Berkeley County Schools are piloting the program at two elementary schools in Martinsburg.

Shepherd University will provide technical services and volunteers via faculty, staff, and students from several departments. Shepherd will also create an objective assessment study instrument and evaluation mechanism that will be used to monitor the program’s effectiveness.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.