Lexington VA helps prevent veteran overdoses with Narcan, treatments and employment assistance
Originally published by WEKU.
Lexington’s Veterans Affairs Healthcare offers several programs designed to prevent overdoses and treat those with substance use disorders. Elizabeth Dodd is a mental health services program manager and supervises the Lexington VA’s CATS clinic. CATS stands for clinical addiction treatment services.
“We’ve really tried to get the word out there that we offer to our healthcare-eligible veterans Narcan, that we offer a whole wide range of outpatient and residential services.”
Narcan, the drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, is available at the VA’s Bowling Campus near Cooper Drive in Lexington, but it can also be mailed. Dodd said some of the veterans who’ve been treated have gone on to work there as peer support specialists. She said they also help vets looking for jobs.
“We were given funding with the VA to supply a supportive employment specialist, so their job is to work with veterans who are actively in SUD treatment to help them gain competitive full time or part time, if that’s what they wish, employment.”
Dodd said being employed helps veterans in recovery by giving them motivation and a feeling of purpose.
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Originally published by WEKU.
Republished with permission.
