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Virginia allocated more than $12.3 million in opioid settlement funds toward 39 projects in 18 state agencies. It’s the latest round of spending from the Opioid Abatement Authority created to confront opioid addiction. Families affected by opioid addiction can take heart. Although Virginia has many programs to battle addictions, including local Narcotics Anonymous chapters, many …
Virginia Awards $12.3 Million for Opioid Addiction Care
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Virginia allocated more than $12.3 million in opioid settlement funds toward 39 projects in 18 state agencies. It’s the latest round of spending from the Opioid Abatement Authority created to confront opioid addiction.
The awards cover prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction efforts. Indeed, settlement money continues to reshape how states fund the opioid crisis response.
Families affected by opioid addiction can take heart. Although Virginia has many programs to battle addictions, including local Narcotics Anonymous chapters, many folks still fall through the cracks. Settlement-funded programs tend to reach people who fall through gaps via naloxone distribution, peer services and medication-assisted treatment.
The Opioid Crisis Hits Virginia
The Opioid Abatement Authority oversees 55% of Virginia’s share of national opioid settlements with manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Another 30% flows directly to cities and counties, and the remaining 15% goes to state agencies. This round of awards is the largest to date.
The scale reflects how long the crisis has run. Despite a downward trend overall, overdose remains a leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. Fentanyl and other synthetics remain the deadliest drug of choice among many users.
Funding Programs
The framework funds lots of programs like prevention education, harm reduction and criminal justice initiatives. Past rounds have paid for community programs and virtual reality crisis response training for peer recovery specialists.
That’s because drug addiction is more than just taking one drug or needing one type of care. A person may need naloxone today, a buprenorphine prescriber next week, and a peer support group for the year after. Funding that covers only one piece tends to lose people between services.
The Bigger Picture
Opioids include prescription painkillers and other types of street drugs. Overdose risk jumps up very high when opioids are mixed with other depressants or when a person unknowingly takes fentanyl.
Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses and is available without a prescription in Virginia.
Medication-assisted treatment combines medications with counseling to cut down on cravings.
Peer support through NA meetings and other recovery groups remains free and available in the entire USA.
NA a Top Tier Option
In fact, Narcotics Anonymous is often a life-line for many people in isolation. You meet your peers in your own neighborhood and share experiences. It’s as simple as having a shoulder to lean on when times get tough.
To find an NA chapter in any neighborhood, simply look through our searchable directory. You can also dial 800-934-1582(Sponsored) if you’d like to speak with an expert and explore local options.
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