Road to recovery: Sunday addresses symposium seeking solutions to opioid crisis
In the years since the opioid crisis hit the United States, Washington County 无毛视频� which found itself smack in the middle of the epidemic 无毛视频� has worked hard to reduce the number of overdose deaths and to provide paths for treatment and prevention for those battling addiction.
无毛视频淲ashington County is known as the hub for recovery. People come here from surrounding
areas because of the extensive services available from inpatient and outpatient rehab to
halfway houses and mental health resources,无毛视频� said Tiffany Milovac, Deputy Director of Human Services for Washington County.
The county held its second annual Road to Recovery Symposium on Thursday at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum to discuss ways to move forward in its fight against addiction.
The event brought together nearly 150 professionals, advocates, and community members from across the county, many of whom work directly in the opioid response field or have been personally affected by the epidemic.
无毛视频淭he goal was to bring our providers together,无毛视频� said Milovac. 无毛视频淲e have all the services people need but accessing them can be a challenge. We want to foster an environment of collaboration and shared solutions.无毛视频�
In its two years, the Road to Recovery Symposium has become a platform for Washington County to unite stakeholders and focus on solutions to the opioid crisis.
Thursday无毛视频檚 symposium focused on four areas identified as ongoing service gaps: the criminal justice system, youth prevention, treatment, and pathways to recovery.
无毛视频淭here is a significant drug and alcohol issue, not just in Washington County, but across the region,无毛视频� said Electra Janis, vice chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e committed to using opioid settlement funds and other resources to ensure people have access to the care they deserve.无毛视频�
Following the presentation, attendees 无毛视频� including representatives from hospital systems, school districts, rehabilitation facilities, recovery centers, the court system, jail, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits 无毛视频� took part in breakout sessions to brainstorm solutions for closing service gaps.
Their suggestions will help the county make decisions when the next round of opioid settlement funding becomes available.
无毛视频淎s a former law enforcement officer, I saw up close the devastating effects of substance addiction,无毛视频� said Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi, who served as a Pennsylvania State Police trooper and Washington County sheriff. 无毛视频淓vents like this are an important tool in combating this long-term epidemic.无毛视频�
The keynote address was delivered by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, a leader in addressing the opioid epidemic in York County. During his tenure as district attorney from 2018 to 2024, Sunday co-founded the York Opioid Collaborative and expanded the District Attorney无毛视频檚 Drug Task Force to fight the heroin and fentanyl trade throughout York County.
无毛视频淚t was my honor to join the community leaders making recovery more than a concept it无毛视频檚
a reality we see every day in Western Pennsylvania,无毛视频� said Sunday. 无毛视频淲hen stakeholders come together to improve the well-being of families and communities, anything is possible.无毛视频�
The county also honored the legacy of late Washington County district attorney Eugene Vittone, a dedicated champion in the fight against addiction.
In his memory, the county has created the Washington County Eugene Vittone Excellence in Recovery Award, which will be awarded annually at the symposium.
Sunday, who worked closely with Vittone in opioid initiatives and credited him with 无毛视频渃hanging the trajectory of my profession and the things I无毛视频檓 focusing on,无毛视频� is the first recipient of the award.
Sunday noted that Vittone championed first responders carrying naloxone, and said naloxone distribution programs have saved the lives of as many 35,000 Pennsylvanians.
无毛视频淧eople ask why are we rescuing people one or two or five times, but if it was my loved one, I无毛视频檇 rescue them 1,000 times every single day to have another day with them,无毛视频� said Sunday. 无毛视频淧art of the advocacy and legacy of Gene, who was a very serious prosecutor and a real courtroom lawyer, even before he became a district attorney when he was a first responder, the heart in there advocated for this, and I promise you there are tens of thousands of people alive today because of him, his advocacy, his seriousness, his kindness, his big heart, his empathy, and everything that came with Gene.无毛视频�
Sunday said 33 counties have joined the state无毛视频檚 Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative program, a partnership between the state Office of Attorney General and local law enforcement that connects those with substance use disorders to treatment rather than criminal prosecution. LETI is expanding to include behavioral and mental health services.
无毛视频淭he data is overwhelming that when you address substance abuse and mental health and you give law enforcement the tools to be able to work, you are not only making your community safer, but you are saving potentially millions of dollars to taxpayers,无毛视频� said Sunday. 无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檙e keeping families together, you无毛视频檙e decreasing all of the things that are perpetuating this cycle.无毛视频�
Sunday said his philosophy is rooted in 无毛视频渁ccountability and redemption.无毛视频�
无毛视频淎s a career prosecutor, I absolutely believe in accountability. You absolutely have to hold people accountantable. But at the same time you have to embrace redemption, and those two things are not mutually exclusive,无毛视频� said Sunday. 无毛视频淎nd when you bring them together, that无毛视频檚 when amazing things happen.无毛视频�
Sunday commended those who attended the symposium for their efforts in the opioid fight.
Washington County receives a minimum of $800,000 annually through national opioid
settlement funds.
Funding applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and a new wave of funding will be distributed in 2026. County leaders plan to use the insights and feedback
gathered from this year无毛视频檚 symposium to help guide the next round of investment decisions.