Collaborating in the epicenter of the opioid epidemic
Marshall University and West Virginia University are partners in a larger university effort led by Virginia Tech to address the opioid issue in Appalachia.
The effort, called the Opioid Research Consortium of Central Appalachia (ORCA), recently received a grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to help unite scientists, health care providers and communities to confront the opioid problem, directly in the epicenter of the epidemic.
Researchers say in central Appalachia, West Virginia, Southwest Virginia, eastern Kentucky, southeast Ohio, eastern Tennessee, and western North Carolina have the nation's highest opioid death rates, and people have limited access to treatment. In addressing the addiction problem, regional groups have acquired a lot of knowhow.
Consortium leaders are set to gather next month in Blacksburg, Virginia, to talk about next steps.
In addition to Marshall, WVU and Virginia Tech, East Tennessee State University and the University of Kentucky are participants.
The effort, called the Opioid Research Consortium of Central Appalachia (ORCA), recently received a grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to help unite scientists, health care providers and communities to confront the opioid problem, directly in the epicenter of the epidemic.
Researchers say in central Appalachia, West Virginia, Southwest Virginia, eastern Kentucky, southeast Ohio, eastern Tennessee, and western North Carolina have the nation's highest opioid death rates, and people have limited access to treatment. In addressing the addiction problem, regional groups have acquired a lot of knowhow.
Consortium leaders are set to gather next month in Blacksburg, Virginia, to talk about next steps.
In addition to Marshall, WVU and Virginia Tech, East Tennessee State University and the University of Kentucky are participants.