WHO
WE ARE
We are a team of dedicated partners and collaborators working together to make an impact.
TEAM MEMBERS.
Susan Margaret Murphy, PhD
President
Dr. Susan Margaret Murphy is the president of the Drug Intervention Institute headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia.
Susan is committed to reducing overdose deaths in West Virginia, Appalachia, and the Nation. She has over 25 years of administrative experience with non-profits and higher education. She is fiercely committed to public health and health education. Most recently, she helped develop and implement opioid prescription and medication safety programs aimed at educating all young people and the public about the dangers of prescription and illicit drug use/misuse. She is an advocate for evidence-based prevention programming, harm reduction services, and common-sense SUD response. Susan has written over 100 articles to date, with her most recent publications focusing on OTP treatment, harm reduction programming, medication safety, overdose response, and increasing the pipeline of healthcare professionals in Appalachia. She also serves on the boards of the West Virginia Rural Health Association and West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation and has received recognition for outstanding and innovative contributions in combatting our nation’s drug crisis including an award from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for her work in prevention education.
Mia Manfredi is the Director of Operations and Accounting for the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute. She has over 15 years of experience in office management primarily in the legal field where she worked in Criminal Defense and Family Law. There she worked diligently assisting adult and juvenile clients enter into treatment programs both privately and through the Kanawha County Drug Court Program. Ms. Manfredi’s background provides unique insight to the opioid epidemic and the struggles facing West Virginians.
Mia’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s in Psychology as well as multiple certifications in health and fitness. She enjoys teaching Pilates and Lagree in her spare time so that she may encourage others to live their best lives.
Mia Manfredi
Director of Operations & Accounting
Rhiannon Wiseman is the Receptionist and Customer Service Representative for the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute. She has over 11 years in long-term recovery and is driven to bring her best to the team. Rhiannon is currently enrolled with Jobs & Hope and is completing her certification as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) in order to better assist others in her community while promoting the Institute’s mission.
Rhiannon expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the WV DII team. She feels she is right where she belongs.
Rhiannon Wiseman, PRSS
Outreach, Event & Fulfillment Coordinator
Dr. Rebecca S. Linger serves as a Research Consultant and the Nalox(ONE) WV coordinator for the WV DII.
Rebecca is also a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy. She received a B.A. in Music and a B.S. in Biochemistry from San Francisco State University. She earned her Ph.D. at Purdue University in the laboratory of V. Jo Davisson at the School of Pharmacy. She has over seventeen years of teaching experience at the professional level. She has published several articles on mechanistic enzymological topics in top scientific journals.
Rebecca S. Linger, PhD
Research Consultant & Nalox(ONE) WV Project Coordinator
Joe Murphy, CEO of MISC, Murphy Media and ONEbox™, has over 20 years of experience working as a Video Production Specialist. He is an award-winning writer, director, producer, and artist however, while skilled in cinematic storytelling with traditional still and video images, Murphy may be just as typically be found directing a Virtual reality shoot, creating a mobile application platform, or piloting an Unmanned Aerial System during the open of ABC’s Indy 500.
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As a native West Virginian, Murphy has continuously been actively engaged in developing platforms and media outreach to combat the opioid epidemic. Murphy’s work with agencies such as Recovery Point, CCSAPP, and most recently, his work with Lily’s Place has brought attention and potentially Millions of dollars in much-needed support.
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Joe is the creator and visionary behind Rex the Rx, ONEbox, and many new initiatives to support the mission of WV DII and educate the public on the importance of medication safety and the opioid epidemic using cutting-edge technology.
Joe Murphy
Content, Creative, and Media Partner
Macy Withrow, is the Education Director for the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute. She graduated from West Virginia University in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and minors in Communications as well as Women and Gender Studies. Since her start in the professional workforce, she has worked with nonprofits serving youth in West Virginia.
During her spare time, Macy enjoys binge-watching her favorite shows and tending to her house plants. Macy has a passion for helping others in her community and is excited to contribute her skill set to the strong foundation that the Institute already has in place.
Macy Withrow
Education Director
Jason Hager has over 20 years of experience helping clients grow and market their businesses. He has worked with companies large and small, local and international, to increase market share and generate more business. He is a marketing expert and has trained groups of business professionals from all over the world on sales and marketing strategies.
Jason has the ability and experience to help organizations of all sizes plan and execute highly effective marketing plans with measurable results. He has been an international keynote speaker and consultant to businesses on marketing strategy, business development, social media, and website development.
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Jason leads the marketing and public relations efforts for WVDII. He has worked with Dr. Bissett and the WV DII team to create and launch online learning programs for Naloxone training as well as medication safety programs for adults and children.
Jason Hager
Marketing & Public Relations Consultant
Education Program Coordinator
Appalachian Regional Commission
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Through funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the DII is doing outreach work in communities throughout WV and KY to increase access to naloxone and recovery resources. The purpose of this grant is two-fold. First, to increase the recovery workforce in our region and second, to prevent overdose and increase access to treatment and recovery for persons living in these communities.​​​​​
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ARC Team Members:
West Virginia
Christina Vickers
Outreach and Education Coordinator
Kanawha and Clay County WV
Christina is the Outreach & Education Coordinator covering Kanawha County. She was born and raised in Charleston, WV and a graduate of Stonewall Jackson High School. She went on to WVU, majoring in Social Work. During her time there, she had the honor of playing the trumpet with The Pride of West Virginia marching band.
Christina later attended Owen's Community College and earned an associate's degree in law enforcement with an emphasis on corrections. She graduated with honors and became a member of the Psi Chi National Honor Society.
Christina earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from West Virginia State University and enjoyed working with youth at WV Children's Home Society and Daymark.
Christina moved to North Carolina in the fall of 2008 where she worked with the community to help end homelessness. She recently returned to Charleson, WV to settle in the place she has always called home. She's had the privilege of raising an extraordinary daughter whom she adores.
Christina is very enthusiastic about the impact she can make with the community through working with WVDII.
Paige is an Outreach and Education Coordinator for West Drug Intervention Institute covering Mingo, McDowell and Logan County, WV. She is in long-term recovery and passionate about helping others. Paige wants others to know that you are never too far gone. There are people who will meet you right where you are.
Paige Stacy. PRSS
Outreach and Education Coordinator
Mingo, McDowell and Logan County, WV
Kentucky
Brianna is the Kentucky Program Lead Outreach and Education Coordinator covering Estill, Madison, and Garrard County, KY. She is a wife and mom of 2. She has been in long-term recovery for 9 years and 11 months. Brianna has worked in the Substance Use field since 2017 and received her Peer Support Certification in 2021. Outreach is a much-needed role in every community, and she is grateful to continue this work in her hometown and surrounding counties.
Brianna Reeves-Putthoff, PRSS
Team Lead
Outreach and Education Coordinator
Estill, Madison, and Garrard County, KY
Lakkan Branham, PRSS
Outreach and Education Coordinator
Floyd, Knott, and Letcher County, KY
Lakkan serves as the Outreach and Education Coordinator for Floyd, Knott, and Letcher Counties in Kentucky. She brings over seven years of experience working in addiction, substance use, and mental health services, and is a certified Adult Peer Support Specialist. With eight years of personal recovery, Lakkan combines professional expertise with lived experience to provide compassionate, informed support to individuals and families navigating recovery.
A devoted mother of four daughters, Lakkan credits both her family and her recovery journey as driving forces behind her commitment to this work. She is deeply passionate, highly motivated, and dedicated to empowering others, with a strong focus on education, outreach, and helping individuals find their path to lasting recovery.
Tennessee
Teri is the Outreach and Education Coordinator for Hamilton County, Tennessee. She is a person in long-term recovery from Substance Use Disorder who has been in recovery for 3 years. Teri has worked full-time in a Substance Abuse and Mental Health treatment center for the past 2 years. She is very active in her recovery community, spreading awareness and education that recovery is possible. Teri believes to keep what she has, she must give it away.
Teri Barnes, PRSS
Outreach and Education Coordinator
Hamilton County, TN
Jessica Birch, PRSS
Outreach and Education Coordinator
Knox County, TN
Jessica has been in recovery since July of 2016. Before anything else, she is a wife to her husband Jeramee and mom to her two boys, Joss and Jace — the heart behind her drive and purpose.
Jessica is a Justice-Involved Peer Support Specialist, Recovery Coach Professional/Facilitator and an Anti-Trafficking Consultant.
For over 7 years, Jessica has been a harm reduction advocate, specializing in overdose prevention, human trafficking and justice-involvement. Her work has directly equipped thousands of individuals, families, and professionals with life-saving resources, tools and knowledge.
Jessica has become a leading voice in stigma reduction around addiction, human trafficking, and the justice-involved community. She is currently under clinical supervision, continuing to build her skills and expand her impact.
As an overdose survivor, Jessica uses her lived experience to connect with people from all walks of life. Her beliefs are simple: People are not defined by their worst moment, Recovery is real, and second chances change everything.