Drug use and addiction affect all communities in Virginia. Drug use can result in infections, like HIV or hepatitis C, overdoses needing emergency or hospital care, and deaths. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) provides resources to prevent and respond to drug overdoses and other outcomes in Virginia. VDH and other state agencies work to improve health outcomes and reduce injury and deaths from drugs, including fentanyl. VDH continues to focus its efforts on:
- preventing injury and death from drug use and addiction;
- preventing and reducing infectious disease related to drug use and addiction;
- promoting efforts to prevent and reduce the disease of addiction; and
- using data and public health surveillance to inform prevention and response efforts.
VDH is committed to being a trusted source of public health information and services.
Fast Facts
In 2022, there were:
• 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.
• 5,331 newly identified cases of Hepatitis C, a 16% decrease from 2021.
• 792 newly diagnosed cases of HIV, with no change from 2021.
• 412 Virginia infants younger than one year hospitalized with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), a 5% decrease from 2021.
