There are many people in West Virginia who struggle with drug addiction today, just as there are around the country. As the nation continues to search for ways to combat the growing opioid epidemic and other challenges associated with substance addiction and abuse, the state of West Virginia is looking at one change it might be able to make on its own.
Back in the 1990s, West Virginia was one of the states that put in place a law that would forever prevent a person convicted of a felony drug offense from receiving what many commonly refer to as food stamps. The official name for this assistance program is the Supplemental Assistance Program. This program provides a valuable service to people by allowing them the ability to buy groceries and feed themselves.
However, as reported by WOWKTV.com, people in West Virginia who have felony drug convictions on their records have been unable to benefit from the SNAP program. In fact, West Virginia is only one of three states that still maintains such a ban.
Recently, however, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that would repeal this ban, opening up the chance for prior drug offenders to receive SNAP benefits. Helping people to have access to quality nutrition may be one way of helping them to get their lives on a better path while they find ways to deal with their substance addiction issues. It is not clear what steps are left in order for this bill to become law.
