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The opioid epidemic has significantly affected Richmond, Virginia, mirroring the broader crisis seen across the United States.
Richmond has witnessed a troubling rise in opioid-related overdoses and deaths over the past decade. In 2021, Virginia recorded over 2,600 fatal drug overdoses, with opioids being the primary cause in the majority of these cases.
Richmond, being a major urban center, has been particularly affected, experiencing high rates of opioid misuse, largely driven by the availability of prescription painkillers, heroin, and increasingly, synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The crisis has strained local healthcare resources and has highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive addiction treatment and prevention programs.
Efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in Richmond have involved a multifaceted approach, including the expansion of treatment services, increased availability of naloxone (a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses), and public awareness campaigns. Organizations such as the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) have been instrumental in providing support and treatment for those affected by opioid addiction.
Key Statistics on Opioid Use in Richmond
- Richmond saw opioid overdose deaths more than double from 60 in 2019 to 155 in 2020.
- Since February 2023, there have been nearly 1,600 emergency visits related to opioid overdoses in central Virginia.
- In 2021, nearly 150,000 people in Virginia had an opioid use disorder, a 127% increase from 2020 estimates.
- On average, at least six Virginians die from an opioid drug overdose every day.
Opioid Overdose Statistics in Richmond
- Richmond saw opioid overdose deaths more than double from 60 in 2019 to 155 in 2020.
- Since February 2023, there have been nearly 1,600 emergency visits related to opioid overdoses in central Virginia.
- Almost 8 out of 10 (79%) drug overdose deaths in Virginia involve fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, or tramadol.
- In recent years, Virginia reported nearly 22,400 drug overdose emergency department (ED) visits, a 5% increase from the previous year.
- Deaths often involve more than one opioid category (e.g., both methadone and a natural or semisynthetic opioid).
Demographic Data & Insights
- While historically the opioid crisis disproportionately affected white rural communities, there has been a shift towards urban areas and communities of color.
- In 2019, the fatal opioid overdose rate among Black individuals became disproportionately higher than other groups nationally.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated racial disparities related to opioid mortality, with a notable spike in opioid-related deaths among Black individuals in 2020.
- Women are more likely to report recent and lifetime prescription opioid use (55% vs. 42%).
Common Opioids & Changing Trends
From 2011 to 2021, the landscape of opioid use in Richmond and Virginia as a whole has undergone dramatic changes:
- Prescription opioids were the primary concern in the early 2010s.
- Heroin use increased mid-decade.
- Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, have become dominant in recent years.
- Fentanyl has become the driving force behind opioid-related deaths in Virginia.
- In 2012, it was present in just over 6% of all fatal overdoses. By 2021, fentanyl was involved in 77% of all statewide overdose deaths.
State Funds & Resource Allocation
The state has allocated significant resources to combat the opioid crisis:
- Approximately $23 million was distributed directly to Virginia cities and counties
- Funding for innovative local initiatives, such as Mobile outreach projects
Local and state initiatives are working to address these challenges:
- Expanding MAT services: Efforts to train more providers and increase the number of waivered physicians capable of prescribing buprenorphine.
- Reducing wait times: The RBHA is making programming changes to expand its capacity for medication-assisted treatment.
- Increasing awareness: Community outreach programs and collaborations with healthcare providers to educate about available treatment options.
- Improving accessibility: Some facilities, like CleanSlate Richmond, offer walk-in appointments and telehealth options to reduce barriers to entry.
Ongoing efforts are crucial to bridge the gap between treatment need and availability, ensuring that individuals seeking help for opioid use disorder can access timely and effective care.
Virginia has also implemented a state-based Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to increase opioid prescribing safety, which:
- Tracks controlled substance prescriptions
- Helps healthcare providers identify potential misuse or diversion
- Supports safer prescribing practices
Resource & Support Groups in Richmond
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in Richmond
- SMART Recovery in Richmond
- FCCR Radford Outpatient
- Offers MAT, intensive outpatient treatment (IOP), and Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT).
- Address: 4906 Radford Ave, Richmond, VA 23230
- Pinnacle Treatment Services
- Provides a full continuum of care, including Low-Intensity Residential service and Partial Hospitalization (PHP) treatment.
- Address: 155 Wadsworth Dr, Richmond, VA 23236
- New Season Treatment Center
- Offers customized treatment plans with MAT and counseling services.
- Address: 3021 Mechanicsville Tpke, Richmond, VA 23223
- CleanSlate Richmond
- Provides outpatient and telehealth appointments, accepting various insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid.
- Address: 1510 N 28th St #101, Richmond, VA 23223
Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not have insurance, the cost can vary based on the prescribed dose. Patients unable to afford buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) (regardless of insurance coverage) can apply for cost-assistance. The company that makes Suboxone offers this type of program to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses. To learn more, go to: inSupport program.
You can also get discounted buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) using pharmacy coupons or cash prizes. If you go to the GoodRx website (goodrx.com), you can enter in your zip code and find coupons and discounts at your pharmacy of choice. (On average, if you use GoodRx coupons/discounts, you can slash the typical price of generic Suboxone film from $395 to $118).
Before you are prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), you will need to undergo an initial medical evaluation so that the doctor can ensure that it is an appropriate medication for you, though this does not require an in-person visit and can be done via telehealth (with video or telephone).
Once you have completed this assessment, the doctor will send a prescription to your preferred pharmacy. So, yes! You can find a licensed buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) provider online and they can get you started on it via telehealth services without any in-person appointments.
- Buprenorphine/naloxone (Subxone) which is available in outpatient clinics (at your primary care doctor’s office or a psychiatrist’s office)
- Naloxone (Vivitrol) which is available in outpatient clinics (at your primary care doctor’s office or a psychiatrist’s office)
- Methadone, which is available only through methadone clinics
If you are interested in Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) offered entirely through telehealth services, visit bicyclehealth.com. To get help on finding other treatment options and levels of care (such as inpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs/IOPs, residential programs, and methadone clinics), call the SAMHSA helpline at:
1-800-662-HELP (4357).