West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute Inc

TO REDUCE DEATHS IN WEST VIRGINIA FROM OPIOID AND DRUG ABUSE BY BEING (A) AN INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE FOR LIFE-ENHANCING DRUG POLICIES AND PRACTICES, (B) A HUB FOR COORDINATING DRUG RESPONSE ACTIVITIES, AND (C) AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER TO ADDRESS THE PREVALENCE OF DRUG ABUSE AND THE STIGMA OF DRUG ADDICTION.

EACH YEAR THE WV DII EDUCATES OVER 5,000 YOUTH AND 40,000 HOUSEHOLDS EACH YEAR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDICATION SAFETY THROUGH OUR DON'T KEEP RX AROUND MEDICATION SAFETY AND SMARTRX ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS THESE PROGRAMS ARE INTERACTIVE AND SCHOOL-BASED, BUT ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO PARENTS, FOSTER PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND EDUCATORS ONLINE. OUR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND HEALTH FACILITIES IN WEST VIRGINIA. IN MAY 2021, THE WV DII LAUNCHED AN ONLINE NALOXONE TRAINING COURSE, WHICH WAS VETTED AND APPROVED BY THE WV OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY. TO DATE, THE COURSE HAS TRAINED OVER 1,000 PERSONS IN ALL 55 WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES ON THE USE OF THE LIFESAVING, OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG, NALOXONE. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 1,000 BOXES (2,000 DOSES) OF THIS LIFESAVING MEDICATION.IN SPRING 2022, TO HELP EDUCATE PERSONS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE MEDICATION DISPOSAL AND LIFE-SAVING NALOXONE TO REVERSE AN OPIOID OVERDOSE, THE WVDII LAUNCHED NALOX(ONE) WEST VIRGINIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 30 PHARMACIES ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA INCLUDING 21 FRUTH PHARMACY (LOCATIONS). THE NALOX(ONE) PROGRAM EMPOWERS PHARMACISTS TO EDUCATE PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE PRESCRIBED OPIOID MEDICATIONS AT PARTICIPATING PHARMACIES IN WEST VIRGINIA. PATIENTS WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO RECEIVE THE OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATION, NALOXONE, AND WILL ALSO RECEIVE A DISPOSERX HOME MEDICATION DISPOSAL PACKET FREE OF CHARGE AT THE TIME OF A PHARMACIST CONSULTATION. AS OF JUNE 30TH, THE PROGRAM SCREENED 232 PATIENTS, CONDUCTED 63 FOLLOW-UPS WITH 46 COMPLETED, DISPENSED 72 UNITS OF NALOXONE, AND DISTRIBUTED 229 MEDICATION DISPOSAL KITS TO PATIENTS.THE INSTITUTE HAS IMPLEMENTED SMART RX UNIVERSITY, A MEDICATION SAFETY AND SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION PROGRAM TRAINING OVER 500 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AT 15 OF THE STATE'S 24 COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THESE STUDENTS ARE NOW ABLE TO DELIVER THE CURRICULUM TO STUDENTS ON THEIR RESPECTIVE CAMPUSES AND CERTIFIED TRAINERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTITUTE PARTNERED WITH THE WV COLLEGIATE RECOVERY NETWORK TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 20 EMERGENCY OPIOID RESPONSE BOXES (ONEBOXES) ON OVER 15 COLLEGE CAMPUSES TO INCREASE READINESS AND RESPONSIVENESS TO OVERDOSE ON CAMPUS. WVDII HELPED ESTABLISH A STATE-WIDE SUD COALITION, THE WV HOPE IN ACTION ALLIANCE AND SERVES AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THIS ENTITY. THIS MISSION OF THE ALLIANCE IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WEST VIRGINIANS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITIES.