By Jessica Dillon
A plan to use opioid settlement funds in Martinsville was delayed earlier this month after City Council members said they needed more information, prompting the organization slated to carry out the work to respond.
At its March 10 meeting, council approved the funding on first reading but decided to revisit the proposal and hold another public hearing, citing questions about how the money would be used.
The delay affects a proposal from the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition (VHRC), which outlined a series of programs aimed at reducing overdoses and connecting people with treatment and services.
“We are trying to build out an overdose spike response team,” said Ariel Johnson, VHRC’s director of operations. “When we see an increased amount of overdoses, we are able to communicate with first responders in a record amount of time.”
The team would use the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) to track overdose trends and respond quickly.
VHRC also focuses on connecting people with mental health and substance use services, working with providers such as Piedmont Community Services and Dandelion Counseling. The group uses that information to determine where to hold outreach events and distribute naloxone in areas with the highest need.
“We take resources to the most high-hit areas to help reduce death,” Johnson said.
The organization also works with pregnant women struggling with substance use disorder, helping connect them with prenatal care.
“We get those women connected to care to have a well-supported, healthy pregnancy,” Johnson said, adding the program has seen success.
Since July 1, 2025, VHRC reports it has served 417 individuals through 1,693 service interactions. Participants reported reversing 91 overdoses using naloxone, while 33 individuals said they personally experienced an overdose that was reversed. One fatal overdose was reported.
The group also reported progress toward goals set by the Opioid Abatement Authority, including distributing 1,936 naloxone kits and 684 drug-checking kits, while continuing to develop a rapid response protocol.
Another part of the proposal would fund a day shelter for individuals struggling with substance use. Johnson said existing shelters often have limited hours or cannot serve people who are actively using.
VHRC hopes to create a space with extended hours and is working with local partners, including the sheriff’s office, to identify a location.
“Get someone where they are actively using to the next step of their recovery,” Johnson said.
The proposal also includes funding for a case manager to assist people who are newly released from incarceration and experiencing homelessness. Services would include help obtaining identification, applying for disability, building resumes and connecting to jobs and housing.
Johnson said the delay has slowed those efforts.
“As long as we are going through all of this, people’s needs aren’t being met,” she said.
Johnson attended the March 10 meeting and said she supports additional public input but was concerned about how the discussion was framed.
“The community should be asking questions,” she said. “At the end of the day, our community was directly targeted by the Sackler family. It isn’t something that just touched me — it’s touched almost everyone in our community.”
She added that while organizations should be held accountable for how funds are used, assumptions can be harmful.
“The way it was phrased sounded like we were up to no good,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the funding amount may seem large but is largely allocated to salaries, rent and direct services.
“It is going to cover 100 percent of the housing case manager salary. I can’t even hire that position until everything is figured out,” she said.
VHRC also provides services including naloxone distribution, HIV and hepatitis testing, education, social services and access to sterile supplies to reduce disease transmission.
The organization is subject to regular audits through the Virginia Department of Health, its governing board and the Opioid Abatement Authority, Johnson said, and must document all spending.
VHRC staff also work with other programs across the Appalachian region, providing training and support.
“They deemed us so good at what we do that we teach others our approaches and strategies to meet those most in need,” Johnson said.
