Opioid Epidemic in Virginia

In 2016, the Health Commissioner, Dr. Marissa J. Levine, declared the opioid addiction crisis a public health emergency. The declaration was in response to the growing number of opioid overdoses. 

• Fatal drug overdose has been the leading method of unnatural death in Virginia since 2013; with opioids being the driving force.
• In 2015 across Virginia, the number of illicit opioids deaths surpassed Rx opioid deaths. This trend continued at a greater magnitude in 2016 and 2017.
• From 2007-2015, opioids (fentanyl, heroin, U-47700, and/or one or more prescription opioids) made up approximately 75% of all fatal drug overdoses annually in Virginia. However, this percentage is increasing each year due to the significant increase in fatal fentanyl and/or heroin overdoses which began 2013. Fatal opioid overdoses increased by 8.0% in 2017 when compared to 2016.

What is VA Stop?

In October 2017 the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board formed a partnership. with the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance (CPA) to create VA Stop. VA Stop is designed to educate Virginians about the risks of prescription painkiller and heroin use, the relationship between painkiller and heroin use, and what to do when you need help. We are working to prevent non-medical use of prescription painkillers and, in so doing, to break the connection between heroin and prescription painkillers. Together, we can stop opiate addiction before it starts. 

Hampton & Newport News Local Efforts

The Peninsula Community Opiate Response (PCOR) Group, organized in 2016 as a consortium of public and private agencies in the cities of Hampton and Newport News  to work together to minimize the impact of the opioid crisis in our communities.  The mission of PCOR is to act as a problem solving partnership between the community, law enforcement, criminal justice, health care and government agencies dedicated to reducing the abuse of heroin and opiates in our communities and to educate our citizens on the prevalence of the problem, the signs and symptoms of addiction and the resources available with the goal of reducing deaths and crime in our communities.

Become a Stop Partner

VA Stop is licensed as part of the Campaign to Stop Opiate Abuse ©2019 Commonwealth Prevention Alliance. All images, graphics, thematic elements and content are produced and licensed-managed through our media partners BOOM Creative who created and maintain this website. For information about becoming part of the Campaign to Stop Opiate Abuse, or to inquire about utilizing or acquiring any of the content or materials, please contact BOOM Creative.