MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia has awarded a $263,000 grant to set up the state’s second quick response team, which focuses on getting overdose patients into treatment programs.
News outlets report the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources awarded the grant Monday to the Prestera Center to establish the team, which will consist of medical professionals, mental health specialists and law enforcement. The team will contact drug users within 72 hours of an overdose to attempt to get them into a treatment program.
The first such team launched in Huntington in December, with the help of two federal grants. Its director, Bob Hansen, told WVPB-TV around 40 percent of people engaged have gone into treatment.
DHHR spokeswoman Allison Adler says the goal is to set up teams in every major city.
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