Call center has received more than 5,000 calls for help around substance abuse, mental health
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (September 9, 2016) – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today joined state and local officials at the 844-HELP4WV call line headquarters in Charleston to commemorate the one-year anniversary of West Virginia’s first statewide 24-hour substance abuse call line, and highlight the state’s progress in the fight against substance abuse.
“I am proud of the work we’ve done and the progress we’ve made together to help those struggling with addiction, especially through the HELP4WV call line,” said. Gov. Tomblin. “As we mark the one year anniversary of the help line, we also look ahead to the challenges that remain – and recommit ourselves to helping more West Virginians overcome addiction.”
In the year since Gov. Tomblin launched the call line, more than 5,200 calls have been received. Of those, 2,250 were individuals seeking help, all of whom were connected to at least one resource to begin or continue treatment. The help line was a recommendation of Gov. Tomblin’s community-driven regional substance abuse task forces, which are set to hold their 20th round of meetings this fall.
The call line is administered through a collaborative partnership between the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and First Choice Health Systems, whose employees are professionally certified and trained to engage callers in conversation. They work on a one-on-one basis to determine the best steps moving forward for each individual.
No callers are placed on hold and can be immediately connected with treatment staff to help determine the most appropriate treatment option. Follow-up phone calls are placed after the first appointment, the first month, and the first three months to help patients stay on track and have access to any additional clinical information or resources on community-based programs and local support groups.
Snapshot of Substance Abuse Resources & Programs in West Virginia
The 844-HELP4WV call line is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week and accepts phone calls and text messages. The website – www.help4wv.com – includes a live online chat application.
Substance abuse prevention services are provided in all 55 counties in West Virginia. More than 130 crisis detoxification beds in residential treatment facilities exist across the state with more sites under development. An additional 118 beds are designated for short-term, postpartum, youth and long-term treatment. Nearly 700 beds are available to those seeking help and support at peer and provider recovery homes and facilities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced $53 million in funding for 44 states to combat opioid abuse. West Virginia is set to receive support in its efforts to prevent overdoses and strengthen drug misuse prevention, among other initiatives.
Today, the National Governor’s Association invited West Virginia to attend a learning lab, State Strategies for Reducing Overdose and Deaths from Heroin and Illicit Fentanyl. A team will attend workshops focusing on innovative policies and programs and best practices to increase access to substance abuse treatment and improve timeliness of overdoes reporting and response.
The West Virginia Division of Corrections offers programs focused on combatting substance abuse in the state’s prisons and jails. Nine Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) units in correctional centers across the state provide six-month to one-year courses of inpatient treatment with a total reach of 491 inmates. The RSAT model has been expanded to regional facilities.
Through a pilot program overseen by the DHHR, medication assisted treatment is available for paroling or discharging inmates who have completed substance abuse programs and show motivation for continuing treatment. As of June, 29 inmates had received this treatment before leaving their facility. This pilot program has been expanded through legislation passed this year and has begun development in regional jails.
Both prisons and jails offer outpatient substance abuse counseling programs, including 12-step peer-to-peer programs and a 39-session program focusing on addiction education, transitional skills for recovery and relapse prevention.
