Parkersburg Engagement Project Unveils Proposed Solutions to Address Substance Use

Community celebration event shares survey results and outlines four-part approach focused on recovery support and public awareness.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Parkersburg Engagement Project, a yearlong pilot initiative, hosted a community celebration event to present proposed solutions for addressing substance use in the city. The solutions, developed through a consent-based process by the project's steering committee, include creating a council of recovery professionals, forming a peer-led council of individuals with lived experience, hosting an AmeriCorps volunteer to support the councils, and launching a marketing campaign focused on resource awareness and public perceptions of recovery.

Why it matters

Substance use was identified as the top issue impacting the Parkersburg community, according to a survey conducted as part of the pilot project. The proposed solutions aim to provide more support for those in recovery, increase public awareness of available resources, and shift perceptions around addiction and the recovery process.

The details

The Parkersburg Engagement Project steering committee, which included individuals from various backgrounds such as those in recovery, medical providers, legal professionals, and city officials, generated hundreds of ideas during a series of community conversations. Through a consent-based decision-making process, the committee narrowed the ideas down to the four key components presented at the event.

  • The community-wide survey was conducted from February through April 2025.
  • The Parkersburg Engagement Project's community celebration and 'solution reveal' event was held on Thursday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Lisa Doyle-Parsons

Co-chair of the Parkersburg Engagement Project Steering Committee and the executive director of Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Jason Earl

Steering committee member of the Parkersburg Engagement Project, with lived experience in addiction.

Wendy Tuck

Co-chair of the Parkersburg Engagement Project and City Councilwoman.

Brittany Derberger

External evaluator for the Parkersburg Engagement Project.

Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley

A local organization that will host an AmeriCorps volunteer as part of the proposed solutions.

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What they’re saying

“Substance use came out as the top concern people felt impacted the community.”

— Brittany Derberger, External evaluator (newsandsentinel.com)

“I spent a lot of years in addiction and had no voice, and now that I got one, I want to use it.”

— Jason Earl, Steering committee member (newsandsentinel.com)

“This is the start of the next thing.”

— Wendy Tuck, Co-chair and City Councilwoman (newsandsentinel.com)

“For whatever reason that you're here tonight, I'm thankful that you're here.”

— Lisa Doyle-Parsons, Co-chair (newsandsentinel.com)

What’s next

Organizers said the steering committee's presentation marked the end of the pilot phase and the beginning of an implementation period for the selected components.

The takeaway

The Parkersburg Engagement Project's proposed solutions aim to provide more comprehensive support for individuals in recovery, increase public awareness of available resources, and shift perceptions around addiction and the recovery process in the community.