New River Valley Recovery Ecosystem presentation highlights Pulaski County investment, expansion of peer services

Pulaski County supervisors on Oct. 27 heard a presentation on the New River Valley Recovery Ecosystem, a multi-jurisdictional program funded through the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority to prevent and treat substance use disorder in the New River Valley. Anna Champion, project manager for the Regional Commission, and Kenzie Weaver, community accountability coordinator, described regional services that stretch from prevention and school-based programs to peer-run outreach and expanded treatment access.

The presenters said the ecosystem is in year three of a planned five-year project funded by competitive OAA grants. "This year's competitive award was $3,800,000, from OAA with localities offering matching funds of almost $400,000," Champion said. She told the board Pulaski County committed match funds "of almost $47,000 this year to the project," and that Pulaski residents would…