On the Road to Recovery: RACSB Expands Access to Life-Saving Care

To save lives and reduce overdose deaths, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) is taking treatment for Opioid Use Disorders on the road with the launch of a Mobile Recovery Unit. Stafford County acted as the fiscal agent, performing research and writing the grant application for the Opioid Abatement Authority. The grant funded the purchase of the mobile recovery unit, which will operate as an extension of RACSB's office-based opioid treatment program-offering an evidence-based combination of intensive therapy and medication.

"It was our privilege to partner with the RACSB and the counties and city it serves on the efforts to save the lives of our residents," said Stafford County Deputy County Administrator Donna Krauss. "The impactful work of our staff led the way and laid the groundwork for this innovative treatment offering."

The MRU rolled out Oct. 1 and provides Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) to individuals in the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford and will bolster RACSB's office-based opioid treatment in the City of Fredericksburg.

Last year, more than 1,000 Virginians lost their lives to opioid overdoses, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Nearly 60 of those deaths occurred in Fredericksburg and the surrounding counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford.

"The numbers are moving in the right direction, but even one loss is too many," said Joe Wickens, RACSB's Executive Director. "That's why we're expanding treatment options and bringing hope, healing, and life-saving care straight to the people who need it."

Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that combining medication and counseling saves lives and supports lasting recovery. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in four adults with opioid use disorder receive recommended medications.

"No one's road to recovery should be blocked by barriers like transportation or access to care," said Jacque Kobuchi, RACSB's director of clinical services. "The MRU helps people stay on the path to healing, no matter where that road begins."

To get started, individuals should call the RACSB clinic in their county of residence:

• Caroline, 804-633-9997
• King George, 540-775-9879
• Spotsylvania, 540-582-3980
• Stafford, 540-659-2725

Founded in 1970, RACSB provides public behavioral health and developmental disability services to residents of the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford. To learn more, visit https://www.rappahannockareacsb.org.