As International Overdose Awareness Day approaches on August 31, the West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF), a private nonprofit, joins communities across the state and around the world in remembering those whose lives have been lost to overdose, honoring the families forever changed by addiction and recognizing the individuals who continue their journey toward recovery.
For many West Virginians, overdose is not a statistic. It is a parent, child, sibling, friend, neighbor or coworker whose absence is felt every day. International Overdose Awareness Day serves as a reminder that behind every number is a person and a family whose story deserves to be remembered.
By year’s end, WVFF will have invested nearly $50 million in prevention, treatment and recovery initiatives in West Virginia. Through partnerships across all six WVFF regions, the foundation is working to ensure opioid settlement funds create lasting, meaningful change for generations to come.
“Every life lost to overdose leaves a hole in a family, a community, and our state,” said Greg Duckworth, chairman of the WVFF Board of Directors. “International Overdose Awareness Day is about remembering those we’ve lost while renewing our commitment to those who are still fighting. While there is still work ahead, we know lives are being changed because people have chosen to stand together.”
WVFF encourages West Virginians to take time on August 31 to honor loved ones, support those in recovery and continue conversations that reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help.
For more information about WVFF and its work, visit wvfirst.org.
Community Bulletin
Since joining Vandalia Health, the former Davis Health System has widened access across central West Virginia. Primary care remains the front door — now at five clinics, including Buckhannon Medical Care, backed by a 190-location network. Read more →
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