West Virginia is eligible for nearly $46 million in federal aid from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to fight the opioid crisis through its State Opioid Response (SOR) program, according to a statement Friday by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
According to recent provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdoses nationally fell from 111,029 in 2022 to 107,543 in 2023, a 3% decrease. However, during that same period, the data suggests that opioid overdoses rose 1.34% in West Virginia.
SAMHSA SOR funding includes resources to build on opioid overdose reversal medication – Naloxone and Nalmefene – saturation efforts, ensuring these medications are in the hands of those most likely to witness an overdose.
It aims to increase the focus on the full continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for transitional-aged youth and young adults (ages 16-25). The funding may also help expand access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in correctional settings and may emphasize the provision of services using a whole-p