WV to receive supplemental funding to fight opioid crisis

Rockville, MD – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on Monday announced it will award additional grant funding to three states that have been hit especially hard by the national opioid crisis. The move is part of President Donald Trump’s far-reaching, multifaceted approach to combatting what he declared to be a public health emergency.

“SAMHSA, which funds efforts and provides technical assistance to connect Americans with effective treatment and prevention resources, is releasing funding for three, one-year awards of $333,000 to Massachusetts, New Hampshire and West Virginia,” said Dr. Elinore F. McCance-Katz, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and head of SAMHSA.

McCance-Katz announced the supplemental grant awards Monday at a press conference, after visiting a Charleston, W.Va., treatment facility and participating in a roundtable with stakeholders comprised of law enforcement, public health and substance use disorder treatment officials, as well as Americans who are in recovery.

This additional funding will bolster the treatment and prevention work under way through the Opioid State Targeted Response (STR) grants previously awarded to states. The determination of need for the states was based on a competitive peer review process.

The purposes of these supplements are to expand or enhance prevention, treatment and recovery-support efforts in the states hardest hit by the nation’s opioid epidemic. These additional funds are intended to target areas of greatest need.

“Specifically, in West Virginia, funds will establish an innovative yet evidence-based approach to not only identify individuals with substance use disorders who present to hospitals’ emergency departments but also to ensure immediate provision of Medication-Assisted Treatment, use of peer recovery coaches and referral to community-based treatment,” said McCance-Katz. Along with treatment, individuals will be referred to a one-stop point of care to support their respective recovery needs. West Virginia also will employ telehealth strategies to address the needs of its rural communities.

People grappling with substance use disorders can find treatment resources at SAMHSA’s site: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling our National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP. People who could use help determining which treatment provider is appropriate for their needs can find our free guidance at https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Finding-Quality-Treatment-for-Substance-Use-Disorders/PEP18-TREATMENT-LOC.

More information on the Trump Administration’s work to combat the opioid crisis can be viewed at https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/will-win-war-opioids/ .