NORFOLK, Va. — New data on fatal drug overdoses in Virginia suggests this year could be the first time there’s been a decrease in deaths since 2018.
The Virginia Department of Health recorded 642 fatal drug overdoses in the first quarter of this year compared with 688 in the first quarter of 2021. The first quarter of 2018 showed a decrease of 51 deaths to 346 compared with 2017, and that year went on to show an overall drop in deaths from the prior year.
Even fatal fentanyl overdoses are projected to decrease for the first time since 2011, though still not back to pre-pandemic levels. Fatal overdoses resulting from all opioids are also expected to decrease this year.
