Opioid related deaths in VA continue to decline

New data in Virginia shows opioid overdose deaths continue to decline. The most recent data from the Virginia Department of Health shows synthetic opioid-related deaths, which include deaths caused by fentanyl, decreased from over 2,000 in 2021 to under 1,800 in 2023. Officials attribute the decline to increased awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, and more people having access to and knowing how to use naloxone. Despite the decrease officials say that with nearly five Virginians dying from an opioid overdose per day on average, more funding needs to be allocated to non-government organizations that run addiction recovery programs.