Winston-Salem, N.C. — The Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC) recently recognized Novant Health with the Outstanding Recovery Ally Award at the organization’s spring conference in Asheville, North Carolina. The honor recognizes Novant Health’s efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and the health care organization’s support of people in recovery as well as their families.
APNC, a Raleigh-based nonprofit and an affiliate of NAADAC, The Association of Addiction Professionals, also cited Novant Health’s opioid-specific online continuing medical education available to Novant Health team members and physician partners in an announcement on its website.
“It is an honor to have Novant Health receive this award celebrating the importance of recovery from substance misuse disorder,” said Bridget Bridgman, the director of medication safety at Novant Health and leader of Novant Health’s opioid stewardship initiative. “Reducing the stigma associated with this disease is of utmost priority for our organization.”
While the opioid epidemic did not happen overnight, Novant Health is committed to making as many needed changes as fast as possible. In 2017, Novant Health diagnosed more than 11,500 patients with opioid use disorder. Among those patients, 18 percent are receiving medication-assisted therapy to support their recovery. Also in 2017, Novant Health formed an opioid stewardship task force to examine ways to reduce opioid dependency and stigma associated with substance use disorder, and formed drug takeback programs.
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