September is National Substance Abuse Recovery Month

The West Virginia Department of Health Services (DoHS) joins partners nationwide to recognize the month of September as National Recovery Month. This observance recognizes and promotes evidence-based substance recovery and treatment practices and celebrates those who have taken the long and hard road to recovery, as well as the recovery service providers and the recovery communities that has led to so many lives being saved and put back on track.

Governor Jim Justice proclaimed this month as National Recovery Month and recognizes the success of state programs like the 1-844-HELP4WV helpline, The West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP,) alongside the Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment, champions numerous programs across the state aimed at supporting individuals and families on their journey to recovery. Those programs include:

• Quick Response Teams which are composed of emergency response personnel, law enforcement officers and a substance use treatment or recovery provider who contact individuals within 24-72 hours of their overdose to offer and assist them with recovery support including referrals for treatment options.
• Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) which is a robust and coordinated community system of response that replaces the traditional pipeline of incarceration and punishment with a coordinated effort between multiple local agencies from law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, case managers, and community stakeholders. It is a pre-booking program that allows law enforcement officers to give low-level offenders the opportunity for rehabilitation in the place of incarceration. LEAD is available in 30 WV counties, including Pocahontas County.
• During the 2020 regular legislative session, the passage of West Virginia Senate Bill 838 created the Angel Initiative. Now codified at W. Va. Code §15-2-55, the West Virginia Angel Initiative, promotes a reduction in the fear of arrest and incarceration for those seeking help.
• Naloxone (Narcan) training and distribution, including in the Pocahontas County Schools’s Nurses Offices.
• Many other state anti-addiction and treatment programs.

“Recovery Month is an important time for us to celebrate the strength and resilience of West Virginians who are on the path to recovery,” said Dr. Stephen Loyd, DoHS Office of Drug Control Policy Director. “We are committed to increasing access to life-saving resources, enhancing community support, and reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorders. Recovery is possible, and every step forward is a victory.”

On September 26, 2024, West Virginia will participate in “Save a Life Day” (Free Naloxone Day), the largest day of naloxone distribution east of the Mississippi River. DoHS’s ODCP and the Bureau for Behavioral Health have supplied the naloxone for West Virginia’s Save a Life Day events since 2020. This day represents a significant effort to empower communities with the tools and knowledge needed to save lives from opioid overdoses.