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Regional Recovery Day works to 'dispel the stigma' of addiction

Kirby, wearing a blue shirt, and with tattoos on her arms, talks to a camera
Shaban Athuman
/
VPM News
Serenity Kirby talks about overcoming recovery following a panel discussion on Monday, September 30, 2024 at Henrico Sports and Events Center in Henrico, Virginia.

“Innovative” efforts funded by opioid settlements help decrease overdose deaths.

People struggling with addiction and those working in addiction and recovery treatment gathered at the Henrico Sports and Events Center Monday for the inaugural Regional Recovery Day.

Henrico resident Serenity Kirby shared her story of overcoming her addiction. Both of Kirby’s parents fought addiction, and she wanted to break the cycle of drug use.

“I got incarcerated and I found out I was pregnant with a baby girl,” she said during a panel discussion. “I knew that I could no longer get high or ruin another child’s life. It was no longer about me.”

It’s been a two-year journey for Kirby, whose daughter is now 18 months old. She has relied on her faith, a therapist and support from group therapy to help her stay clean. Today, she sits on the board of Henrico Area Mental Health & Development Services.

Her advice to others fighting addiction: “Using is a hopeless place, so people don’t realize that it’s so many opportunities out here, and people want to help.”

The purpose of Regional Recovery Day was to reiterate Kirby’s message that resources are available for people struggling with addiction.

Leslie Stephen, who leads the substance use and prevention division of HAMHDS, coordinated the event with leaders from Henrico, Richmond, Chesterfield and Hanover.

“We really hope to connect people that need recovery resources or substance use resources to those people and to their family members,” Stephen said. “Most of us know someone who has struggled with substance abuse in their lives, and we really want to try to dispel the stigma around them.”

About 50 vendors were on site to provide information and resources. Jacquelyn Smith-White, prevention program manager with HAMHDS, passed out free pill lockboxes and prescription disposal kits for unused medications.

“The lockboxes are designed so that [people] can take them with them to doctor’s appointments. They can take them on trips, but they can also have them in the home when they’re having guests over to ensure that no one has access to their medications,” Smith-White said.

Fatal drug overdoses have been the leading cause of death since 2013, surpassing homicide, suicide and motor vehicle accidents. According to the Virginia Department of Health, an increase in opioid use has been a contributing factor. At its 2021 peak, there were 2,229 deadly opioid overdoses in the state, which accounted for about 85% of Virginia’s drug-related deaths for the year.

The state has seen a steady decline in opioid-related deaths since 2021 — with VDH projecting another decrease in 2024 — but Stephen says there are still an unacceptably high number of opioid overdoses.

According to an April statement from state Attorney General Jason Miyares, Virginia has secured over $1.1 billion from national-level opioid settlements involving companies that manufacture, distribute and market prescription opioids.

Miyares' office told VPM News that the commonwealth has received over $310 million in settlement money to date.

The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority has worked with the state attorney general’s office to distribute a portion of those funds; 35% of the settlement went directly to Virginia’s cities and counties, and an additional 30% was allocated to localities through the authority.

Stephen said the abatement funding allowed those localities to try “really innovative projects.” Henrico has focused on dispensing boxes of naloxone, a nasal spray medication commonly known by the brand name Narcan that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

“I really do think it’s us saturating the communities with Narcan and people knowing the importance of it,” Stephen said. “Many of us carry it all the time and can immediately respond.”

Stephen encouraged those dealing with addiction to reach out to their local health department, which can help provide information about available treatment services.

Adrienne is the video editor and health care reporter at VPM. She also worked as a multimedia journalist and producer for VPM News Focal Point, VPM's news magazine style, public affairs program. Before joining VPM, McGibbon worked as a producer and video journalist at C-SPAN in Washington, D.C focusing on the intersection of public affairs, politics and history. Prior to joining C-SPAN she worked in newsrooms in Hartford, Connecticut and Des Moines, Iowa. McGibbon has covered presidential elections since 2004, and the federal response to Hurricane Katrina and COVID-19.