Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority

Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority Addressing the opioid epidemic in Virginia by funding efforts to treat, prevent, and reduce opioid misuse.

One size does not fit all when it comes to crisis care.Today's "Crisis Center Clarity" session at the Virginia Recovery ...
06/17/2026

One size does not fit all when it comes to crisis care.

Today's "Crisis Center Clarity" session at the Virginia Recovery Conference tackled one of the most pressing questions in behavioral health: What type of crisis facility is the right fit for your community — and how do you get there?

The session explored how communities can customize crisis services based on local needs, available resources, and models of care that actually work in their context.

Thank you to the panelists who helped bring clarity to these critical decisions: Sarah Corrado & Stephen Craver, Virginia Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS); Mark Doering, Arlington County Department of Human Services; and Kari James, New River Valley Community Services.

Every community deserves a crisis response built for its people.

What if the path to recovery started in the public defender's office?The Virginia Recovery Conference's "Peers to the Re...
06/17/2026

What if the path to recovery started in the public defender's office?

The Virginia Recovery Conference's "Peers to the Rescue" session made the case for exactly that — highlighting the powerful role Recovery Navigators are playing in public defender offices across Virginia, connecting justice-involved individuals with treatment, housing, education, employment, and reentry supports at a critical moment in their lives.

Thank you to the panelists who brought this work to life: Tim Coyne & Abigail Rittenour, Virginia Indigent Defense Commission; and Katie Thompson, Virginia and Kentucky Recovery Corps at Ampact.

Meeting people where they are — even in the justice system — can change everything.

The data doesn't lie — but it does have limits.At this morning's Virginia Recovery Conference, a "Pick Your Poison" sess...
06/17/2026

The data doesn't lie — but it does have limits.

At this morning's Virginia Recovery Conference, a "Pick Your Poison" session brought a forensic science lens to the evolving drug landscape in Virginia, diving into illicit drug seizures, toxicology, and what the evidence can — and can't — tell us as communities work to respond in real time.

Thank you to Robyn Weimer and James Hutchings of the Virginia Department of Forensic Science for bringing this critical perspective to the conversation.

Knowing what's in our communities is the first step to responding effectively.

When we support a mother in recovery, we support her whole family.This morning's Virginia Recovery Conference session fo...
06/17/2026

When we support a mother in recovery, we support her whole family.

This morning's Virginia Recovery Conference session focused on the unique needs of pregnant and parenting women navigating substance use disorder — and the coordinated, compassionate care that makes a difference for women, children, and families.

Thank you to the Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services team for bringing this work to the table: Leslie Stephen, Karen Branin, Abigail Albright, and Claudia Fleming.

Recovery isn't just personal — it's generational.

"You are allowed to rest. Just don't quit."That quote set the tone for this morning's Virginia Recovery Conference sessi...
06/17/2026

"You are allowed to rest. Just don't quit."

That quote set the tone for this morning's Virginia Recovery Conference session on the role of social workers in advancing the effectiveness of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in corrections settings — and it said everything.

Recovery is possible. But it takes trusted relationships, continuity of care, and intentional preparation for what comes next.

Social workers are often the thread that holds it all together.

Thank you to the session speakers (Allen Stewart, Statewide SUD Coordinator, Virginia Department of Corrections and Kristen McKeon, Statewide MAT Coordinator, Virginia Department of Corrections) for leading this important conversation.

Lived experience matters. Peer recovery centers aren't just places — they're lifelines.This morning's Virginia Recovery ...
06/17/2026

Lived experience matters.

Peer recovery centers aren't just places — they're lifelines.

This morning's Virginia Recovery Conference session highlighted the powerful role community-based nonprofits play in creating welcoming, peer-centered spaces that support individuals, families, and communities on the road to long-term recovery.

Thank you to the voices who brought this work to life: Ginny Atwood, Executive Director & Co-Founder, The Chris Atwood Foundation; and Nicky Fadley, Founder & Executive Director, Strength In Peers.

Across Virginia, peer recovery centers are meeting people where they are — and walking alongside them toward where they want to be.

Recovery, workforce development, and economic opportunity aren't separate conversations — they're the same one.Today's V...
06/17/2026

Recovery, workforce development, and economic opportunity aren't separate conversations — they're the same one.

Today's Virginia Recovery Conference session, "From Addiction to Employment," spotlighted a collaborative rural model out of Dickenson County that's connecting recovery supports with education, employment, and economic development in a way that's replicable and real.

Thank you to the panelists who brought this work to life: Dana Cronkhite, Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority; Rachel Patton, Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board Area 1; Dr. Clint Pinion, Jr., Mountain Empire Community College; and Matt Brown, Wildwood Recovery Center & Momentum Management Solutions.

Southwest Virginia is showing what's possible when communities stop siloing recovery and start connecting it to opportunity.

This morning's Virginia Recovery Conference session tackled one of the most urgent challenges in addiction medicine: the...
06/17/2026

This morning's Virginia Recovery Conference session tackled one of the most urgent challenges in addiction medicine: the rapidly shifting landscape of synthetic opioids — and what communities can do to keep up.

Michael Lynch, Substance Use Disorder Services Senior Medical Director at UPMC, led a powerful conversation alongside Sarah Thomason, OAA Board Vice Chair, on how the synthetic opioid crisis continues to evolve — and how communities can adapt their response in real time.

Thank you for bringing expertise, urgency, and practical guidance to this conversation.

Good morning from the final day of the Virginia Recovery Conference!Today's sessions continue the conversation with a fo...
06/17/2026

Good morning from the final day of the Virginia Recovery Conference!

Today's sessions continue the conversation with a focus on emerging drug trends, recovery-to-employment pathways, peer recovery centers, MOUD in corrections settings, crisis facility models, recovery navigation, forensic science, support for pregnant and parenting women, and statewide collaboration.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this inaugural conference such a valuable gathering for Virginia's recovery community.

The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority has approved more than $35.2 million in FY2027 opioid settlement fund grant awar...
06/17/2026

The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority has approved more than $35.2 million in FY2027 opioid settlement fund grant awards to support 150 projects in communities across the Commonwealth.

These investments will help cities, counties, and regional partnerships expand impactful, evidence-based efforts focused on prevention, treatment, recovery support, harm reduction, workforce development, criminal justice diversion, and services for individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder.

This marks the largest amount awarded by OAA to date, bringing total awards to more than $150 million since the Authority’s creation in 2021.

Read the full announcement and award details at link in comments.

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