“Addressing the Opioid Epidemic in Minority Communities”
“The Cliff of Good Health”
REVIVE! Training and Naloxone/Narcan Distribution
Your organization may be eligible to receive free REVIVE! training and Narcan distribution. Fill out our application.
Referrals
Need a referral for essential services:
- food and housing assistance,
- education and employment programs,
- and behavioral and mental health treatment and counseling,
- visit an on-line screening and referral platform to self-refer or for family/friends, which will be live on or around July 1, 2023.
If you are in need of immediate assistance, contact in-network providers, listed below.
Project LEAD Network Partners
Peninsula Community Opioid Response
Act as a problem solving partnership between the community, law enforcement, criminal justice, health care, and government agencies dedicated to reducing the abuse of heroin and opiates in our communities and to educate our citizens of the prevalence of the problem, the signs and symptoms of addiction, and the resources available with the goal of reducing deaths and crime in our communities.
Historic Triangle Drug Prevention Coalition
The Historic Triangle Drug Prevention Coalition's (HTDPC) mission is to have a coordinated and collaborative approach to prevention, education and advocacy to decrease the negative impacts of substance use in the counties of James City and York and cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg.
Peninsula Emergency Medical Services
The primary mission of PEMS is to assist local emergency medical services components (the emergency medical services agencies, hospitals and sixteen jurisdictions of the Virginia Peninsula, Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck) to assess, identify, coordinate, plan and implement an efficient and effective regional emergency medical services delivery system in partnership with OEMS and the Virginia EMS Advisory Board (VAB).
QuitNow
QuitNow Virginia provides free information and coaching by telephone or online to residents who want to quit smoking or using tobacco. The counseling is offered by trained Quit Coaches; in combination with nicotine replacement therapy or medication prescribed by healthcare providers. This gives the patient the best chance of quitting successfully.
Hampton Police Department
Working with citizens to save lives, protect property reduce fear, solve important problems, and support human flourishing. We will respect and enhance the safety, friendships, and dreams of our residents.
Hampton Newport News Community Services Board
Your Community Services Board offers a wide variety of mental health, developmental disability, and substance use disorder treatment services to youth and adults. We also offer crisis and respite services, jail-based services, drug court services, services to veterans, and provide residential services to persons with intellectual disabilities. Housing services are also available to those who qualify. Transportation services are available to those who qualify.
Colonial Behavioral Health
Colonial Behavioral Health provides opportunities for recovery to individuals and their family members in the areas of mental illness, substance use disorder and developmental disabilities. Colonial Behavioral Health serves the citizens of James City County, the City of Poquoson, the City of Williamsburg and York County.
Quality of Life Center
Quality of Life is defined as “the general well-being of a person or society, defined in terms of overall health and happiness, rather than wealth.” We believe in truly engaging families and meeting them where they are in order to better assist them along the road to recovery and self sufficiency. It is our aim to eventually stabilize families so that little to no outside intervention is required to ensure child safety as well as overall healthy and appropriate functioning. It is our desire to ultimately help individuals increase emotional, career, social, financial, physical, and community well-being.
Faith Recovery
Faith Recovery has been helping men facing addiction since 1979 by providing faith-based recovery. The organization has been a treasure in Hampton Roads assisting with addiction & recovery for nearly 40 years. Many men have found freedom from addiction through the residential program. We are available to speak with your organization about how to assist those facing addiction.
Pinnacle Treatment Centers
Everyone with a substance use disorder deserves the chance to heal themselves, repair their relationships, rejoin their communities, and restore balance to their lives. We’re here to show you healing and recovery are within reach –
Behavioral Health Group
Wherever you find recovering people, you’ll find recovering families and communities. At BHG, patients are placed in the safe and trusted hands of local doctors, nurses, counselors, and support staff who understand their community and are here to help patients on their journey to recovery. We're partnering with this community and its leaders to educate the public about addiction and improve access to medication-assisted recovery.
Bright View
It takes courage to talk about substance use disorder, and BrightView is changing the conversation surrounding addiction treatment. We offer outpatient medication assisted treatment programs that help you find and maintain long-lasting recovery. Our centers are part of the local recovery community, and no one who comes to us for treatment is ever turned away—we do everything possible to connect patients with the right resources.
Master Center for Addiction Medicine
Drug addiction is a devastating disease that affects thousands of Americans and their families every year. With affordable prescription medications routinely given out due to an increase in health insurance, overdoses and relapse rates are increasing rapidly. Not only can these drugs take a toll on one’s physical and mental health, they can be deadly. To help combat the epidemic of drug addiction, we aim to provide behavioral health services and counseling to help those seeking a better life.
Newport News Behavioral Health Center
Newport News Behavioral Health Center is a residential treatment facility (RTF) that serves boys and girls, ages 11 to 18. Our treatment services are intended to help residents address psychiatric and substance use issues. We encourage youth to explore their feelings and develop positive behaviors to use at home and in their community.
SperoHealth
Spero Health, Inc., is an integrated healthcare services organization specializing in local and affordable drug and alcohol addiction treatment for individuals suffering from substance use disorder with a mission to “Save Lives, Instill Hope, and Restore Relationships”. Spero Health utilizes an innovative evidenced-based integrated care model that combines both physical and behavioral healthcare services under one roof to treat the whole patient. This integrated care model combines physician services (including medication assisted treatment), behavioral health counseling, recovery support services, medication management and patient and family education. Its community-based approach to treatment allows patients to continue working and caring for their families as they overcome addiction.
Life's Journey
Let Life’s Journey be your trusted partner for comprehensive life improvement services. As a trusted behavioral health provider, you can be confident knowing that your choices lead in receiving personalized mental health services. Whether you are seeking individual counseling, group counseling, family counseling, substance abuse treatment, or other mental health or wellness services, we are committed to helping you achieve all that you aspire to be on your road towards emotional health and wellness.
Pyramid Healthcare
Pyramid Healthcare Rehabilitation Centers provide treatment for adults and teens suffering from addiction or substance abuse, as well as individuals with mental health disorders. As part of our unique 360° recovery system, Pyramid Healthcare provides services for adults and teens in all stages of addiction. Our program offerings include detoxification, inpatient treatment, methadone and Suboxone maintenance therapy, outpatient treatment and halfway and transitional housing. We focus on supplying a safe, supportive environment at all of our rehabilitation centers, where individuals learn and practice recovery and coping skills.
Phone: (814) 259-8716
Riverside Behavioral Health Center
Riverside Behavioral Health Center, a remote location of Riverside Regional Medical Center, offers the most comprehensive range of behavioral health programs on the Virginia Peninsula, including acute care for adolescents and adults, and crisis assessment. Our Admissions team offers 24/7 support for individuals experiencing behavioral health issues.
Sentara Health System
Sentara provides a comprehensive approach to mental health, offering a variety of treatment options and both inpatient and outpatient care.
Bon Secours Health System
We are family-focused and flexible, which means we can create a care plan that works for your specific needs. Our advanced treatment methods are designed to empower you and your family both during and after treatment for the best possible results. We’re here to improve your health in mind, body and spirit.
Bacon St. Youth and Family Services
Bacon Street Youth and Family Services creates healthier families and more resilient youth through evidence-based behavioral health and substance use services for adolescents, young adults, and their families.
Four Oaks Day Center
Four Oaks Day Service Center is a one-stop service and assistance center where men, women, and families experiencing homelessness receive supports and are connected to comprehensive community services under one roof, all thanks to on-site partners Four Oaks offers workforce development supports, housing assistance, and comprehensive case management services that give people the opportunity to transform their lives. The Center is operated by the Newport News Department of Human Services.
Hampton Roads Community Action Program
HRCAP is a regional organization with a steadfast commitment to improve the quality of life through programs in education, training, work experience, emergency services, housing counseling, and many other proven strategies. We have been at the forefront of attacking the root causes of poverty towards the goal of elimination.
H.E.L.P., Inc.
HELP, Inc. is a faith-based organization supported by member congregations, schools, businesses, civic clubs and organizations in conjunction with the cities of Hampton and Newport News. Working together, we provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, a winter shelter program, food, financial assistance, medical and dental care to those in need.
LGBT Life Center
LGBT Life Center is a trusted leader that empowers the LGBTQ communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and wellness, strengthening families and communities, and providing transformative education and advocacy. LGBT Life Center also provides transportation and housing services.
LINK of Hampton Roads
Linking community resources to provide fast and affordable housing solutions to homeless individuals, as well as emergency services to men, women and children who don’t have access to their basic needs and find themselves in a housing crisis or other emergency situations.
NAMI
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean.
SAARA of Virginia
SAARA provides Recovery Support Services to those affected by SUD Addiction via our SAARA Center.
Spiritworks Foundation
SpiritWorks Foundation Center for the Soul is a Recovery Community Organization (RCO) based in Williamsburg, VA. SpiritWorks Foundation is comprised of, and led primarily by, people who live in recovery from addiction. We deliver peer to peer programs and services for children, youth, and adults living in recovery from the disease of addiction. Our programs and services build resilience in children, inspire youth to live drug free, and support, educate and empower adults who live in recovery.
United Way of the Virginia Peninsula
Our mission as United Way of the Virginia Peninsula is to improve the quality of life for people in our community by helping them live their best possible lives. United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. We create Pathways Out of Poverty for our neighbors in need by bringing the community together to navigate through the Virginia Peninsula's toughest challenges.
Urban League of Hampton Roads
The ULHR implements its mission by providing services and programs in education, employment, health, and housing to Hampton Roads communities through direct services, advocacy, research, policy analysis, community mobilization and collaboration throughout communities.
Virginia Peninsula Food Bank
The Foodbank serves individuals, families, children, seniors and veterans in Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg, James City County, Gloucester, Mathews, York, Poquoson and Surry. Help is just around the corner, or down the street for those needing assistance.
Minority Aids Support Services
The Minority AIDS Support Services strives to improve the lives of people living in the Eastern The Minority AIDS Support Services strives to improve the lives of people living in the Eastern Shore region by providing clean needle/syringe exchange, HIV/ STI education, testing, and case management resources. Beyond testing, education and advocacy, we provide housing, food, and transportation resources for positive people in need.
Empowering Transgender Services, Inc.
Our mission is to provide resources to empower all transgender, nonbinary, gender non- conforming individuals to improve their overall quality of life. We are driven to enhance the lives of these individuals by providing support, training and education. We will provide vocational education, employment and career readiness,
About Project LEAD
LEADing Change on the Peninsula, or Project LEAD, is a new substance use disorder and opioid response program by the Hampton & Peninsula Health Districts (HPHD). Project LEAD's mission is to reduce opioid overdose deaths, beginning in the Cities of Hampton and Newport News, where the age-adjusted opioid overdose death rates are much higher than that of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Project LEAD will accomplish this objective through several methods, all of which support HPHD's vision to have the healthiest cities and counties in the state. Project LEAD's strategies include Linkages, Education, Awareness, and Data. Learn more about our strategies below:
Linkages
A referral platform which enables end-to-end holistic social services and continuity of care for a client; including social determinants of health a person may need to be healthy, such as access to food, housing assistance, and transportation. Shared surveillance minimizes the risk of clients falling through the cracks. These referrals allow for the community to work towards a culture of health equity and stigma reduction by providing support for the unique needs of each individual experiencing Substance Use Disorder. If you are interested in becoming a partner in the LEAD network, please contact Adam Hess at adam.hess@vdh.virginia.gov.
Education
Training and education are needed to expand the workforce’s capacity to improve outreach, engagement, and quality of care for populations disproportionately impacted by discrimination. We have partnered with several community organizations to provide REVIVE!, Trauma Informed Care (TIC), Health Equity in Response to Drug Overdose, and Stigma Reduction training to all community and healthcare partners, emergency responders, and health department staff, with a goal to reduce stigma and health disparities in opioid-related treatment. If you are interested in receiving one of the above trainings, please contact Tes La Dieu at taylor.ladieu@vdh.virginia.gov.
Awareness
Community outreach via town halls and events will focus on both prevention and harm reduction education and strategies. Stigma reduction language and diverse and equitable representation, as well as translated services, will be prioritized in all awareness efforts. For information on available resources in the community, go to: www.wavy.com/opioid-addiction/
Data
Data and health equity are vital in all aspects of LEAD. Shared data metrics will be used to understand trends and areas in need of most assistance. Each metric uses evidence-based planning principles and will incorporate data-driven feedback throughout implementation. We are working closely with the Framework for Addiction Analysis and Community Transformation (FAACT), a secure data-sharing database which provides analytics to support communities in Virginia responding to the opioid crisis.
Call To Action
Fatal drug overdoses have long been a public health crisis in the United States. From 1999 – 2018, nearly 450,000 people died from overdoses in the United States.[i] In 2019, there were more than 70,000 drug overdose deaths. While public health efforts have brought attention to drug addiction as a disease and have improved access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and services, many health inequities have not been addressed.
We Want to Hear From You
We want to hear from people who use drugs (PWUDs), those with lived and living experience, and their family and friends.
Please reach out to us if:
- You need assistance with treatment, harm reduction services (Narcan distribution, syringe exchange, etc.)
- You need social needs services such as linkages to food, housing, gas/utility assistance, education/employment programs, etc.
- You are interested in providing feedback on how we can improves services to people who use drugs in our community - we'd love to hear from you!
Contact us at the form below. You do not need to provide your name if you wish to remain anonymous, but please give us a good way to reach you.
Health Equity Resources
With support from the Division of Overdose Prevention (DOP) in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has released a new resource designed to identify existing barriers and facilitators local and state health departments face to advancing health equity in their overdose prevention or response efforts. This environmental scan captures knowledge gained through high-level key informant interviews with state and local health departments to identify current activities, gaps, and innovative strategies currently being leveraged to address health equity and the social determinants of health within drug overdose prevention and response. State and local health departments can use this resource to inform the development of strategies, trainings, and other resources that can better combat existing health inequities in drug overdose.
The Health Equity in the Response to Drug Overdose Online Training is new virtual learning resource developed by Health Research Toolbox (HEART) and available through our NACCHO University platform.
The Health Equity in the Response to Drug Overdose Online Training is a 12-module, free online course designed to guide health practitioners in their integration of fundamental health equity concepts and methodologies into their local drug overdose prevention and response efforts. Through the course of this learner-centered training, participants will walk through key health equity concepts and methodologies while engaging in a range of interactive features, from practical exercises and worksheets to short videos and knowledge checks.
To learn more and register for the course, please visit NACCHO University and access the course here.
With support from the Division of Overdose Prevention (DOP) in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NACCHO has released a report investigating the root causes of health inequities in drug overdose. This preliminary literature review will inform internal DOP and NCIPC processes and provides future guidance for academic, state and local health departments, and CDC staff. Read Now.
A guide developed to support health equity leaders seeking to transform public health institutions and embed health equity into their day-to-day practices.
A workbook for public health practitioners and partners interested in addressing social determinants of health.
A resource outlining tools for racial equity that capture an overall approach to integrating racial equity into routine decision making.
A resource equipping community service providers with current, accessible and relevant information that can be used to inform and develop an opioid overdose protocol.
A repository built by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to provide resources on how entities can work towards achieving health equity.
This report by the Prevention Institute offers a groundbreaking framework for understanding the relationship between community trauma and violence.
A health equity tool developed by the National Overdose Prevention Network to organize organizational responses to health equity challenges.
A systematic scoping review identifying and describing literature which use "a health equity-oriented approach for preventing and reducing the harms of stigma or overdose for people who use illicit drugs or misuse prescription opioids." (Bruce et al., 2021)
In this article, ETR.org describes their " science- and justice-based framework for promoting health equity designed for researchers and practitioners working across public health and social science fields." (Peterson et al. 2020)
A resource repository providing information on issues ranging from justice reform, to residential segregation, and health disparities.
The Prevention Institute developed practical, free-to-use tools to guide practitioners, advocates, and policymakers in planning and implementing prevention strategies.
The Tamarack Institute develops and supports collaborative strategies that engage citizens and institutions to solve major community issues across Canada and beyond.
This guide was prepared by the AMA and AAMC.
Relevant Data
