This week, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) co-sponsored a two-day convening to address the addiction and overdose crisis in central Appalachia. Attendees included state, local, and community leaders, prevention practitioners, clinicians, and peer recovery specialists from Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Attendees came together to share best practices, innovations, and to develop a shared vision for comprehensive, community-wide action moving forward.
“Some of the best resources we have are those who are in recovery themselves,” said Dr. Art Kleinschmidt, SAMHSA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. “Peers are able to intervene and help people navigate treatment and recovery.”
Dr. Kleinschmidt shared his personal experiences in peer support and clinical work, and commended participants on their attention and dedication to prevention, treatment, and helping people achieve long-term recovery for Appalachian communities hard-hit by the addiction and overdose crisis. He also underscored SAMHSA’s commitment to collaborate with state and local partners to make real progress in combating addiction and overdose in our Nation.
The event included presentations and discussions focused on changes in substance misuse and overdose trends, in particular the rise in polysubstance abuse, and panel discussions among stakeholders from the five participating states, highlighting data and technological innovations, novel approaches to prevention, treatment, and recovery funding and financing, and strategies to address challenges and barriers to success.
State and local project teams began planning the initial design of multi-year demonstration projects, which will involve close collaboration with local, state, and federal partners to assess, plan, and implement co-created solutions, and measure outcomes on the effectiveness of strategies to reduce the burden of polysubstance abuse, overdose and addiction on the health and wellbeing of entire communities.
