Drug related deaths fall dramatically in Virginia

Newly released data shows drug overdose deaths have dropped dramatically in Virginia. Preliminary information from the CDC has found that more than 1,500 Virginians died from a drug overdose in 2024. That’s down from the over 2,500 in 2023. That marks more than a 38 percent decrease in overdose deaths and the second largest decrease in the country, only behind neighboring West Virginia. Recovery specialists say that government funding for services and programs along with the prevalence of Narcan has played a key role in reducing overdose deaths in the Commonwealth.