Dr. Stephen Loyd, the new director of West Virginia’s Office of Drug Control Policy, brings a unique perspective to the role as someone in long-term recovery from opioid addiction. Dr. Loyd’s personal journey with substance use disorder began when he was a chief resident at East Tennessee State University hospital and was prescribed hydrocodone pills after a dental procedure. His addiction quickly escalated, leading him to consume large amounts of oxycodone daily.

After experiencing the devastation of addiction firsthand, Dr. Loyd sought help and entered treatment in July 2004. Since then, he has remained sober and dedicated his career to addiction medicine, particularly focusing on supporting pregnant heroin users who face judgment and stigma. His commitment to advocating for equitable treatment for all individuals struggling with addiction stems from his own observations of treatment disparities during his recovery journey.

Dr. Loyd has been vocal about the importance of expanding access to medications like methadone and suboxone, which can aid in the recovery process for those with substance use disorder. He acknowledges the need for better measurement of outcomes in addiction treatment, highlighting the lack of standardized metrics to evaluate success in this field compared to other areas of medicine.

Having played a key role in advocating for accountability from opioid manufacturers and distributors, Loyd now faces the challenge of advising on the distribution of nearly $1 billion in settlement money awarded to West Virginia. He emphasizes the state’s responsibility to allocate these funds effectively to support addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention programs in affected communities.

In addition to his professional duties, Dr. Loyd finds motivation in personal milestones, such as walking his daughter down the aisle and serving as his son’s best man. He keeps a collection of baby pictures and recovery milestone photos from former patients on his phone, serving as a constant reminder of the impact of his work in helping individuals overcome addiction.

Moving forward, Dr. Loyd is determined to continue his efforts to bridge the gap in addiction treatment disparities, improve access to evidence-based medications, and advocate for meaningful outcome measurement in addiction medicine. His own journey from addiction to recovery fuels his unwavering commitment to supporting others in their path to healing and transformation.