Tomblin takes recommendations from substance abuse council - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's Advisory Council on Substance Abuse presented its year-end report Jan. 24, providing policy and program recommendations for the upcoming legislative session.

The overall recommendations include: maintaining existing, successful substance abuse programs; continuing efforts to develop community based, after-treatment recovery supports; encouraging ongoing efforts of substance abuse coalitions; and assisting in the proper disposal of collected drugs.

An executive order in September 2011 called for the creation of an advisory council and for regional task forces. A news release from Tomblin's office cited recent national data that shows a decrease in prescription drug misuse among West Virginians ages 12 and older for the first year since 2008.

"First, I want to thank each member of the Advisory Council for being dedicated to fighting the substance abuse epidemic," Tomblin said in the news release. "Since coming together in 2011, we've taken numerous productive steps to rid our state and our families from the heartache and dangers substance abuse brings to our hometowns."

Click here to read the full report.