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PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Prevention Coalition will hold a town hall meeting Tuesday to discuss efforts to combat substance abuse, including possible uses of funding from the state's opioid lawsuit settlements.
The event at 6 p.m. Tuesday in City Council chambers at the Parkersburg Municipal Building is free and open to the public. Anyone interested in efforts to prevent children from abusing drugs is invited, said Vienna Police Chief Mike Pifer, vice chairman of the coalition.
"It'll be a very informative meeting," he said. "We're always welcoming new people that are interested in our mission to serve."
The coalition is made up of representatives from business, law enforcement, schools, civic groups, government agencies, youth, parents and more. They work to promote drug-free messages and positive activities for kids, Pifer said.
Among the scheduled speakers is Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce, who is representing the region on the West Virginia First Foundation. That nonprofit organization will determine how three-quarters of the more than $1 billion in opioid settlement money will be distributed.
Joyce will provide information about how that money can be used, Pifer said.
"We are seeking input for direction of the funds," he said.
Also speaking will be Greg Puckett, a Mercer County resident and member of the national board for the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, and Cathy Grewe, counselor coordinator for Wood County Schools.
Grewe will discuss drug prevention efforts in the schools, said Bob Newell, chairman of the coalition.
"We are trying to change the conversation from all the negative stories we hear in the community to ... highlighting some of the positive results we are seeing in the schools," he said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.