Fentanyl - Virginia Outlook and Trends

Fentanyl - Virginia Outlook and Trends - 2 of 4

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VFC Shield Members,

In an effort to support Governor Youngkin's Executive Order #26 – Fentanyl Eradication Strategy, VFC Shield will release four mailings dedicated to raising awareness and providing resources to combat the fentanyl crisis affecting the nation.

Week 1 - Fentanyl Eradication Strategy
Week 2 - Virginia Fentanyl Outlook/Trends (Current Week)
Week 3 - Fentanyl Awareness/Prevention
Week 4 - Fentanyl Recovery/Treatment

-Virginia Fentanyl Outlook/Trends-

Fentanyl Related Deaths Nationwide
(Source - CDC - 2022)

Virginia Fentanyl Related Deaths - Demographics
(Source - CDC - 2022)

How is Virginia Responding?

Exective Order #26

On May 9, 2023, Governor Youngkin issued E.O. 26 directing executive branch agencies to enact a comprehensive fentanyl strategy as part of the Right Help, Right Now behavioral health transformation to (1) enhance public safety measures to counteract activity by illicit drug manufacturers and distributors; (2) invest in and enhance prevention and recovery efforts (3) educate our communities for action to address fentanyl and opioid abuse and overdoses; (4) expand access to evidence-based treatments; and (5) comprehensively organize our government to transform and strengthen Virginia's response to the fentanyl opioid crisis.

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New Legislation

On April 4, 2024, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed SB 469 to combat the Fentanyl crisis in Virginia. This bill strengthens the fight against the alarming and devastating crisis that has inflicted profound harm in the Commonwealth.

“By signing this legislation, we are more resolved, more emboldened, more unified and more focused than ever before to ensure no more Virginians die as a result of this fentanyl epidemic,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We are sending a powerful message that Virginia will take critical action against the production and distribution of this horrible poison and we will not tolerate the devastation wrought by this deadly substance.

Expanded Resources and Education

It Only Takes One
Virginia First Lady Suzanne Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares have launched a campaign to tackle the fentanyl and opioid crisis. It aims to bring awareness to the dangers of fentanyl.

The It Only Takes One campaign focuses on fentanyl prevention and recovery resources to schools and community partners.

One Pill Can Kill

Attorney General Jason Miyares launched a new website and advertising campaign for the public awareness initiative entitled “One Pill Can Kill.” The One Pill Can Kill campaign will include a website with resources for Virginians, statewide billboards launched in February 2024, and cable, broadcast, and digital/social media efforts in March 2024. The campaign is expected to run through October 2024.

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Expanded Narcan Education/Resources

REVIVE! Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education

REVIVE! is the Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (OONE) program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. REVIVE! provides training on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose emergency using naloxone.

REVIVE! offers two types of trainings:

Lay Rescuer Trainings are between 1-1.5 hours long. This training covers understanding opioids, how opioid overdoses happen, risk factors for opioid overdoses, and how to respond to an opioid overdose emergency with the administration of Naloxone*.
Training of Lay Rescuers prepares you to become a REVIVE! instructor. This course is 2 hours and covers the administrative requirements to lead REVIVE! trainings*.

Fentanyl Facts
(2022 Stats)

2,490 drug overdose deaths among Virginians, a 5% decrease from 2021.

Almost eight out of 10 (79%) drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and tramadol.

22,398 drug overdose emergency department (ED) visits among Virginians, a 5% increase from 2021.

More than 2000 Virginians died from Fentanyl overdoses in 2023.

Over 90% of overdose fatalities are accidental.

How is Fentanyl so dangerous?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

Only a Few Salt-Sized Grains of Fentanyl Can Cause a Fatal overdose

When cut with other drugs, fentanyl leaves "hot spots," making it among the most lethal substances available on the recreational drug market. A hot spot is a high concentration of fentanyl within a mix of other product(s). Fentanyl’s molecular nature does not allow it to mix evenly into other powders without leaving behind indetectable clumps.

Resource | Curb The Crisis

The Crisis by the Numbers in Virginia

Virginia’s Framework for Addiction Analysis and Community Transformation (FAACT) allows government and community health organizations to better understand and address the opioid and addiction crisis through data. Using data from sources such as Virginia State Police, Emergency Medical Services, and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, FAACT provides insightful, high-level analyses that enable a more effective, data-driven response to the Fentanyl Epidemic.

View Resource

Resource | Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management

Operation FREE Virginia

Many Virginia families have suffered the loss of loved ones due to fentanyl poisoning and have gathered together to build resiliency and educate others about the dangers of this crisis. As part of Operation FREE Virginia, VDEM is doing its part by educating and training our communities, local emergency managers and first responders.

View Resource

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This is an open-source product. Redistribution is encouraged.

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The opinions or conclusions of the authors reflected in the open source articles and resources is not endorsed and/or does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Virginia Fusion Center. The sources have been selected to provide you with event information to highlight available resources designed to improve public safety and reduce the probability of becoming a victim of a crime.

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