Prevention

Prevention

Our Goal

Our goal is primarily to reduce the number of overdose deaths by impacting the families in our community starting with those most vulnerable. School-aged children in Berkeley County comprise of 16% of the total population (19,581 pupils). As of May 2020, there are 7,265 youth in foster care in West Virginia. Most government agencies and journalists attribute the rise to increased parental substance abuse. Of the 15 categories associated with a child’s removal from home and placement into care, drug abuse by a parent had the largest percentage point increase. We aim to target the youth affected by substance use disorder and provide intervention tactics to help curb the appeal of early substance use.

What We Do

The Juvenile Opioid Treatment, Intervention & Prevention Program Team is comprised of a Program Coordinator and a Peer Recovery Coach that will work to support those most vulnerable to the opioid crisis in the community, the children. The partnership with Berkeley County Schools and the Berkeley County Recovery Resource Center will address treatment and intervention needs primarily for students, but also for their family. The goal is to strengthen education and prevention activities in the middle and high schools, instilling coping mechanisms, reinforcing resilience and reducing stigma.

Youth Support Group

In addition to the curriculum at the school, the team hosts a weekly youth group on Thursdays at 6 p.m. at the Recovery Resource Center. We aim to provide a safe space for teenagers to discuss their struggles, build relationships, and get extra support to help them build character and make positive life decisions. The JOTIPP team collaborates with The Martinsburg Initiative and Project Aware to provide therapy and counseling referrals to families at no cost.