CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia is one of three states to receive $333,000 in federal funds to combat the opioid epidemic.
The money comes through grants provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, assistant secretary of SAMHSA, made the funding announcement Monday at the Prestera Center in South Charleston. She was joined by Bill Crouch, cabinet secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, and Karen Yost, CEO of Prestera.
The $333,000 comes from the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants, which is through the 21st Century Cures Act.
New Hampshire and Massachusetts will also receive the funding.
McCance-Katz said West Virginia will use the funds to establish an evidence-based approach by providing treatment to addicts right from the time they seek help.
People with opioid use disorders who are seen in emergency rooms will be treated the same day with life-saving medication and/or assistance.
“This is going to be West Virginia’s approach to a one-stop shopping for people who have a very serious condition and who need a lot of services,” McCance-Katz told reporters during a press conference at Prestera.
At least 80 percent of the funding will be used for treatment services and 20 percent will go toward prevention, depending on how states plan to use the money.
McCance-Katz said her department’s goals for combatting the opioid crisis include:
- Establish a public awareness campaign to inform Americans about the risks associated with misuse of opioids.
- Expand treatment and recovery service for Americans who need assistance.
- Develop a new program of research at the National Institutes of Health that looks to develop new medications that do not have the addiction potential of opioids, but will be effective pain relievers.
- Seek stronger forms of naloxone, the opioid overdose drug, to better help Americans suffer with an overdose.
- Establish ways to better treat opioid overdoses and reduce opioid prescribing.
- Work with health care professionals to teach best practices for addressing pain including alternatives to opioids.
Secretary Crouch said the West Virginia plans to connect its quick response team initiative with SAMHSA’s program.
Quick response teams are based in Huntington. Crouch said these teams work to identity people suffering from opioid addiction to get them into treatment.
“If those individuals aren’t ready at that time in the emergency room, we have a quick response team that will get out to them within 24 hours to see if maybe they’re ready then,” he said.
Crouch said the state plans on expanding the initiative by placing response teams in Charleston and other parts of the West Virginia to get more people into recovery.
First District Congressman David McKinley (R-W.Va.) said in a Monday statement:
“This funding will help supplement West Virginia’s efforts to fight this epidemic that is ravaging our communities. There is more work to be done to ensure that West Virginia gets its fair share of funding in the future, but today’s announcement is welcome news.”