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The county has seen a troubling rise in nonfatal overdoses.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. —
As the opioid crisis strikes close to home, the Prince William Health District’s (PWHD) new assessment brings crucial insights into how this epidemic is affecting our neighbors and guiding us toward local solutions.
On Monday, PWHD shared the findings of its extensive 10-month needs assessment, aimed at tackling the opioid crisis that has deeply impacted the Greater Prince William region. This comprehensive evaluation, conducted from September 2023 to June 2024 under the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) Community Engagement grant, reveals critical insights into the challenges and gaps in addressing opioid-use disorder (OUD) within the community.
The assessment’s findings are both sobering and illuminating. Between 2018 and 2023, the region experienced 454 deaths related to OUD. Nonfatal opioid-related overdoses have more than doubled since 2017, with a troubling rise among young adults aged 20-24, young women, and Black and Latino adults. These numbers highlight the urgent need for a community-focused approach to address this growing crisis.
Acting Prince William Health District Director, Dr. Olugbenga Obasanjo, emphasized the importance of this assessment by saying, “By working across systems of care to understand the burden of addiction in our communities, we can begin to address disparities surrounding opioid use disorder in the Greater Prince William region.”
The needs assessment, which engaged populations including the Latino community, adolescents, active drug users, and those in recovery, highlighted several key areas for intervention. The top three identified needs are:
Addressing Stigma: Stigma remains a significant barrier to accessing care. It affects communication, the availability of resources, and the quality of services received. Overcoming this stigma is crucial to improving access to and acceptance of treatment.
Establishing Peer Recovery Specialist Services: There is a critical need for services that provide peer support, which can help individuals navigate the complex landscape of addiction treatment and recovery.
A Multifaceted Approach to Co-occurring Disorders: Recognizing and addressing the connection between OUD and mental health challenges is essential for providing comprehensive care and support.
In response to these findings, PWHD is preparing to implement an action plan in the second and third years of the grant, focusing on several strategic areas:
Building Understanding: Educating the public about the nature of opioids and addiction, framing it as a health issue rather than a moral failing.
Ensuring Equitable Access: Exploring ways to provide equitable care to all individuals, regardless of their background or location.
Improving Communication: Enhancing communication across different sectors to eliminate barriers and facilitate better access to help.
Fostering Collaboration: Training across systems to improve collaboration and referral processes for those in need.
Monitoring Progress: Continuously assessing the effectiveness of interventions and adapting strategies as necessary to address emerging challenges.
The full findings of the assessment are available here. For those interested in discussing partnerships or seeking more information about addressing opioid use in the community, please contact Hope, Community Engagement Specialist, at Kirstin.Sievers@vdh.virginia.gov.
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