Fighting Fentanyl: 8News meets with McShin Foundation to learn about recovery resources

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — 8News is shedding light on the opioid epidemic in Central Virginia through its Fighting Fentanyl series. Ahead of its start on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 8News anchors met with the McShin Foundation to hear about those helping to make recovery and support more accessible.

In the morning on Wednesday, 8News Anchors Delaney Hall and Autumn Childress spoke with Jesse Wysocki, chief operating officer of the foundation.

When asked what the organization is all about, Wysocki gave some insight into the many ways it supports community members.

“We are a local recovery community organization. We have a wide range of services; a couple of the main things we do is that we are a resource center. So, I tell family members and loved ones who call in, ‘If you need help, just come on in,'” Wysocki said. “Our goal is to get you connected with resources if you suffer with substance use disorder or addiction. We also have recovery houses and a recovery program that individuals can come to.”

Wysocki also shared information about the state of the opioid epidemic in Virginia.

“I think Virginia has made some strides, there were some recent statistics that said overdose deaths were down, but also, in saying that, with substance use disorders, not just opiates, our quality control director at McShin gave me some numbers stating that opiate deaths went down, but stimulant deaths went up,” Wysocki said.

Wysocki said that though progress has been made, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. He also explained more about the specific offerings of some of the foundation’s programs.

“We have a recovery program, it’s typically 28 days, though sometimes individuals will stay 90 days in the program, and then normally, they’ll transition to one of our recovery houses,” Wysocki said. “While they’re in the program, they get assigned to a recovery coach who meets with them weekly, they’ll get linkage to detox, therapy and a psychological evaluation if needed, as well as food and events.”

In terms of the impact that he’s seen from the programs, Wysocki said it is significant, sharing that all of the staff members at the foundation participated in the programs and have been in recovery for a year or more.

If anyone is looking for resources to get into recovery, Wysocki said they can call the foundation at 804-249-1845 for access to the foundation’s resources or to be connected to other resources.

8News coverage for the Fighting Fentanyl series will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25. For more Fighting Fentanyl stories, click here .

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