After Hurricane Maria, Connecting Those in Recovery with Care

Health workers took heroic measures to protect people from overdoses in 2019, whether in Virginia or Puerto Rico. Above, Dr. Chaco Vargas hugs a patient in Puerto Rico while doing outreach earlier this year to those in recovery from opioid addiction. (Bimarian Films)

When Hurricane Maria swept over the island of Puerto Rico in 2017, the storm caused massive disruptions for residents’ everyday lives. Interruptions of power, service delivery and medical care touched every part of the island, and also halted services for people in recovery from addiction. Direct Relief has provided funding and medical support to a host of primary care providers and harm reduction groups working to care for those in recovery now, and to expand those services in the future.

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