RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Commonwealth University has been awarded a $675,000 grant to help eight other schools develop substance abuse recovery programs.
News outlets report Gov. Ralph Northam announced the funding Wednesday in Richmond. The money comes from the federal State Opioid Response grant.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports Northam says addiction and the opioid epidemic has become the state’s largest challenge. He says about 1,500 people died of a drug overdose in Virginia last year.
Program Coordinator of Rams in Recovery at VCU Tom Bannard says the group helps students have a community on campus that supports recovery.
Rams in Recovery is expected to help develop programs at Longwood University, Radford University, University of Mary Washington, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia Union University, and Washington and Lee University.
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