SUMMERS COUNTY W.Va. (Hinton News) – Statistically speaking, you have a 32% chance of drug use affecting your life. To put it another way, a one in three chance. A study conducted in 2023 showed that around 19 million children live with at least one parent or caregiver with a drug use problem.
To bring it local, a 2022 study showed 12% of adults in the Hinton area of Summers County have reported having a drug use problem.
Weston Hartwell is here to bring hope and help to the community for the drug problem through the Summers County Pathways to Prevention Coalition. Hartwell started a journey with REACHH, and that led to this position.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt deeply for those struggling with addiction, whether it be to alcohol, drugs, or something else,“ Hartwell said.
“I have several people close to me that I have watched struggle with substance use disorders for my entire life. Some were able to beat it. Some unfortunately lost their lives to it,” Hartwell went on to say. Hartwell said that prevention and awareness were just something that came naturally to him, and he genuinely loved it.
According to Hartwell, substance abuse among youth in the area is somewhat middle of the road, meaning it’s there but could be worse. Vapes and pens are still a big problem locally, Hartwell said, according to what information the coalition has. “The problem will become more prevalent if we don’t act on it now,” Hartwell says.
The coalition has only recently gotten back up and running and they’re staying busy doing outreach, according to Hartwell.
“I want to create that safe space where you will not be judged for reaching out but rather only feel lifted up, loved, and supported by me and my team,” Hartwell explained. He went on to say that he understands how asking for help in a world that stigmatizes substance use disorders is hard, but he hopes that anyone dealing with it can understand they won’t be judged by the coalition or by Hartwell himself.
It’s very clear when talking to Hartwell that he is passionate about helping people. That he cares deeply about the people and community he’s dedicated to helping.
Hartwell offered these tips for drug use prevention. A five-step process beginning with assessment, then moving to capacity, and then planning. Next up would be implementation, and last is evaluation. According to Hartwell, this model is taken from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
Hartwell urges anyone struggling with addiction to reach out for help. Contact a helpline, a doctor, a therapist, whatever it takes to get the help you need. Hartwell wants anyone who has already taken that first step to know he’s incredibly proud of you for that.
If you’re in Summers County and need help, contact Weston Hartwell at REACHH at 304-466-2226. Simply stopping by the office located at 411 Temple Street is also an option. Hartwell wanted to end this by saying, “You matter. Genuinely.“
