Richmond opens office for opioid and substance abuse
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A new Office of Opioid and Substance Use Response made its way to the City of Richmond on Friday, offering support and treatment to those struggling with recovery.
According to an announcement shared by the city on Friday, July 11, the new office was founded as a result of the ongoing opioid crisis and the need for substance use prevention and recovery services in the city.
“The opioid crisis continues to devastate families across Richmond," Mayor Danny Avula said. “The launch of this office marks a pivotal step forward in ensuring that our response is not only comprehensive, but rooted in equity, harm reduction, and long-term healing for our residents.”
Led by Anna Jones, an opioid response strategist, the new office will be the primary resource and hub for "coordinating the City’s efforts to reduce the impact of substance use disorders across the community," according to the release from the city. It will also be housed within the Human Services Portfolio under the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and will collaborate with local health providers, public safety agencies, community-based organizations and more.
“We are committed to meeting this crisis head-on with compassion and urgency,” Jones said. “OOSUR will help ensure that Richmond residents affected by substance use have access to the support, treatment, and dignity they deserve.”
The city said Jones is a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience in substance use response and community engagement, and most recently was the opioid outreach coordinator for Chesterfield County.
The city said the following are the key duties of the office:
- Coordinating prevention, treatment and recovery initiatives across city agencies and community partners
- Expanding public education and awareness campaigns
- Supporting harm reduction strategies, including access to naloxone and overdose prevention resources
- Strengthening data collection and analysis to inform citywide response
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