MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—The shadows lengthened as Michael Cole walked through the cemetery near sunset to his daughter’s grave, where he dropped to his knees and kissed the cool, dark stone of her marker.

Head bowed, his hands tenderly swept away bits of grass clinging to the headstone’s base, fingers lingering on shells and heart-shaped stones left as tribute to Lauren Cole’s life. She was 26.

West Virginia leads the nation in accidental drug overdose deaths despite a 40 percent decrease.{ai:summary}<p>MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—Michael Cole visits his daughter Lauren's grave at sunset, kneels, and kisses the dark headstone. </p><p>He bows, wipes away grass from the base, and touches shells and heart-shaped stones left as tributes to Lauren, who was 26. #society</p>

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