Northwest Health Fighting Addiction (8-13-20)

Northwest Health Fighting Addiction (8-13-20)

Local not-for-profit will begin investing $1 million to fight addiction and drug abuse in rural northwest missouri.

Last year -- opioid overdoses killed nearly 1,100 missourians.

Kq2's madeline mcclain shares how northwest health plans to drive down deaths -- and get people to recovery.

Natsáánearly 71-thousand americans died of drug overdoses last year.health officials believe the covid-19 crisis could drive deaths even higher.terry petersen, director of behavioral health, northwest health services: "the number of people we are seeing is up by about 20-25 percent.a $1 million dollar federal grant to fight addiction couldn't have come at a better time for northwest health services...terry petersen, director of behavioral health, northwest health services: "nationwide we have seen addiction increase 25-30 percent."the not-for-profit won a federal grant -- funded over the next 3 years -- to treat and deliver substance and opioid use disorders.the million dollars will help set up programs in atchison, holt, nodaway, grundy and livingston counties.terry petersen, director of behavioral health, northwest health services: "we are just really excited about hopefully being able to make a difference for something that has been put on the back-burner during the pandemic a little bit."with that money -- northwest health services hopes to replicate its medication-assisted treatment or mat program in the 5-county area.mat combines counseling, therapy and medication to help people deal with substance use disorders.

Terry petersen, director of behavioral health, northwest health services: we serve more than 200 people already.

We have peer support, we have counselors, additionally community health worker support.northwest health provides the wrap around services already in st.

Joseph -- but once they started the grant process last year realized that it's what rural northwest missouri needs too.

Terry petersen, director of behavioral health, northwest health services: there's an acute shortage of providers that can provide mat."and it's going to take a lot to get a mat program like the one here in st.

Joseph -- set up in other counties...terry petersen, director of behavioral health, northwest health services: "we are up to six providers within our program and there was a lot of hesitancy to begin with and boy once we got the first couple in it's just grown exponentially."but based on the feedback from hospitals, first responders, county health officials -- and surveys from 2800 individuals in those counties -- it's what they need.

"a year's worth of hardwork already and then another 3 more challenging years but it's the exciting kind of challenge."reporting in st.

Joseph, madeline mcclain kq2 news.

Northwest health will officially get the first part of the grant money on