x
Skip Navigation

Washington, DC's Leading Local News: Weather, Traffic, Sports and more | Washington, DC | WUSA9.com

virginia

‘More people die from overdoses than car accidents’ | Virginia report shows record high number of opioid-related deaths

Fairfax County had more opioid-related deaths than any other jurisdiction.
Credit: WUSA
Over the course of three months, 15% of the opioid-related deaths in Virginia happened in Fairfax County.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — From January to March of 2019, there were 324 fatal opioid overdoses in the state of Virginia.

According to Fairfax County’s website, 22 of those deaths occurred in Fairfax County, the most for any Virginia jurisdiction.

"In Fairfax County, more people die from overdoses than car accidents," the county's website said. 

The Virginia Department of Health’s report said opioids have been the driving force behind the increase  in deadly overdoses, and overdose is the leading method of unnatural death in Virginia since 2013. 

Credit: Viginia Dept. of Health
According to VDH, 324 people died an opioid-related death in the span of three months.

According to VDH, Fentanyl caused or contributed to more than half of the fatal overdoses in 2018.

When it comes to tackling the opioid epidemic, Fairfax County has formed an Opioid Task Force Plan that aims to reduce deaths and use data to tackle the epidemic.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

RELATED: DC company creates device as a safer way to prescribe, distribute and use opioids

RELATED: Virginia campaign seeks to help pregnant opioid users

Download the brand new WUSA9 app here.

Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter: Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.