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Substance abuse disorder is ravaging Appalachia’s families, communities and the economy. In 2015, overdoses claimed more lives in Virginia and Tennessee than car accidents did. To hear more about the impact opioid abuse is having specifically on Central Appalachia, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, and ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl Gohl hosted over 200 people at a Town Hall in Abingdon, Virginia, last week. They heard from law enforcement, treatment providers, health officials, and other community leaders about what is needed to cope with the opioid epidemic, including wrap-around services that include housing, social services, and health care; flexible and comprehensive treatment options; and prescription reform. In conjunction with the visit, USDA announced $1.4 million in Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grants to five Appalachian health centers to expand their opioid treatment services. “The Secretary heard loud and clear that in Appalachia, the opioid issue is an economic issue,” said Federal Co-Chair Earl Gohl. This event was the first in a series of Town Halls on the opioid crisis Secretary Vilsack will be hosting across the country.
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