Published: 01/23/2026 | Author: Terri

An innovative but little known crisis intervention project in West Virginia is helping reduce opioid overdose deaths, addiction experts say. It’s also setting a new standard for how communities respond to opioid addiction and mental health crises across the U.S.

Addressing West Virginia’s Opioid Overdose Crisis

Since the fall of 2023, opioid overdoses have been on the decline nationally. Public health experts aren’t in agreement about the cause, and it has been uneven across the nation. 

Long known as the center of the opioid crisis, West Virginia is among the states showing the highest reduction in overdose fatalities. Many of these deaths have historically been linked to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, making recent declines especially notable.

Crisis intervention training (CIT) has been increasingly adopted by law enforcement and may be a little explored factor in the state’s recent decline in overdoses. Current research reveals that jurisdictions with CIT programs show a decline in overdose fatalities. 

Enhancing Authorities’ Response to Mental Health Crises

CIT was created in the 1980s to help law enforcement officers recognize mental health conditions and help those struggling get into treatment instead of jail. The CIT programs are increasingly popular with law enforcement in light of the overdose epidemic. 

Yolandah Mwikisa, the crisis response unit supervisor for the police department in Wheeling, West Virginia, stated that “As more police officers recognize that substance use disorders are a pandemic, more have become interested in crisis intervention training.

Mwikisa further added, “Most of them want to do their jobs better. They want to avoid lawsuits. They really want to understand what people are going through.”

CIT programs teach law enforcement officers to recognize individuals in mental health and opioid related substance use crises, how to encourage them and how to speak calmly and empathetically to get them into treatment. 

Prioritizing Treatment Over Prison

Research shows that people in addiction treatment are less likely to commit crimes, suffer fewer overdoses, and live longer, even if recovery isn’t permanent. Jail increases the risk of continued substance use and fatal overdoses. This risk is especially high for people with opioid addiction due to reduced tolerance after incarceration.

Richard Frank was part of the Obama administration and helped coordinate their opioid response. Frank is also senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. He argues that getting people into a treatment program is about effort more than intention. He noted that actually delivering someone to a treatment facility instead of giving them a phone number is important. 

Mwikisa feels that prioritizing individuals’ needs is most important when dealing with substance use. 

She states that people aren’t “going to want to tell their story twice,” so expecting someone to show up to treatment on their own after already having a difficult discussion with a CIT team is asking a lot. Instead, she calls ahead to the treatment facility to ensure an easy transition. 

Mwikisa says that in her years as a CIT coordinator, she has seen a difference in how law enforcement officers behave. She recalls a time she got pulled over for speeding shortly after moving for a CIT job. 

“The treatment I got was brutal. Maybe more brutal than you’d expect,” she said. 

The training changes officers’ behavior. The program does have its skeptics. There are people who believe that individuals engaging in something illegal should go only go to jail. 

Mwikisa states, “Holding people accountable and getting them help are not opposites. The real failure is when we do neither.” 

Find Opioid Addiction Support Near You

Opioid addiction doesn’t have to end in tragedy. Help is available.

Find local Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, peer support groups or treatment programs near you.

You can also call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) for immediate, confidential support.