Overdose Awareness Day, celebrated on August 31 each year, has become a national catalyst for change and education. While the instances of overdose have declined by almost 40% in West Virginia since 2023, it’s still a place where the nation’s highest rates of overdose can be found.
One thing is certain: overdose prevention efforts are working, but there is still a need for intervention.
Fentanyl is driving the majority of overdoses in the state. At Hope for Tomorrow, Overdose Awareness Day isn’t just a day to remember those we have lost, but a day to focus on practical tools in the fight against opioids.
The following guide includes local resources, education programs, and life-saving tools available across West Virginia to help prevent overdose and support recovery.
Since 2015, West Virginia has had the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country. Trafficking of prescription medications, fentanyl, heroin, and meth has been the most significant issue, placing us directly in the center of the opioid epidemic.
These deaths have caused pain for families and a strain on our healthcare systems. This crisis has also impacted our community’s labor force and foster care systems.
Education and awareness are pivotal in decreasing these numbers, and we know it works. Overdose Awareness Day shines a light on these issues and promotes life-saving measures. To continue to climb out of this national crisis, we need to continue to invest in treatment, recovery support, and prevention methods. This day encourages collective community effort and unity in the fight against opioids.
Thankfully, many of our statewide efforts to prevent overdose are working. Here are some of the things currently happening in West Virginia that are making an impact:
If you or someone you care about is in active addiction and unable to receive treatment right away, there are harm reduction resources available across the state.
Harm reduction methods are not in place to encourage addiction; they’re a way to prevent a health crisis until the individual is ready for treatment. Here are some current, available harm reduction and recovery resources:
| Who They Are | How They Help | Where to Find Them | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) program | Provides parents with access to treatment and services so they can safely care for their young children. | 📍Throughout West Virginia (the program continues to grow). | 📲West Virginia DHHR: (304) 558-0684 🌐Website |
| Cabell‑Huntington Health Department Harm Reduction Program | Provides sterile syringe exchange, wound care, testing for HIV/HCV, naloxone distribution, and referrals to treatment or housing. | 📍703 7th Avenue Huntington, West Virginia 25701 |
📲(304) 523-6483 🌐Website |
| Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) | Connects people with SUD to treatment instead of jail. Includes peer support with co-responding specialists. | 📍Spread over many counties in West Virginia. | 📲West Virginia DHHS:(304) 558-0684 🌐Website |
| SAMHSA State Opioid Response (SOR)‑funded programs | Resource provider: Medication-assisted treatment, contingency management, peer recovery services, and telehealth across the state. | 📍All 6 regions of West Virginia | 📲West Virginia DHHS:(304) 558-0684 🌐Website |
| West Virginia Collegiate Recovery Programs | Hosts daily meetings at college campuses for those in recovery. | 📍724 College Ave. (Maple House) Morgantown, WV 26505 | 📲(304) 293-2547 🌐Website |
| SOAR West Virginia | Connects individuals to free or no-cost naloxone throughout the state. | 📍100 Kanawha Blvd W Charleston, WV 25302 | 📲[email protected] 🌐Website |
Whether you’re in contact with someone in active addiction or you’re managing a substance use disorder yourself, obtaining free naloxone is advised.
Naloxone distribution is widely available in West Virginia. Here are a few ideas on where to find it:
Naloxone training is available both in person and online.
Knowing how to properly administer naloxone can save a life from an overdose.
Here are some free naloxone trainings and toolkits offered throughout West Virginia:
Overdose Awareness Day isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s a call to action. We’ve seen how prevention efforts are working in West Virginia, but there is still more to do.
Donating to local agencies or facilities helps people who can’t afford treatment get the care they need. Honoring the lives lost to overdose by sharing their stories and educating others on the dangers of illicit opioid use can make a big difference.
Obtaining and learning how to use naloxone a showing up to local educational events, speaking out against stigma, and supporting people who are managing addiction.
Hope for Tomorrow offers both residential and outpatient addiction treatment at our locations in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. We serve a diverse range of patients, including pregnant women, veterans, couples, and individuals with co-occurring mental or medical conditions. No matter someone’s background, they’re welcome here. Call us today at 877-679-8162.
Treatment Today for a Brighter Tomorrow