New data dashboard tracks opioid trends

There were 20 fatal opioid overdoses and 205 non-fatal overdoses during the first quarter of 2022 in the Fairfax Health District. That’s down from 31 fatal overdoses in the first quarter of 2021.

There were 205 non-fatal overdoses to date in 2022 and 237 at the same point in 2021.

Both fatal and non-fatal overdoses have been trending upward since 2016. The vast majority of overdoses between 2016 and now affected people ages 20-64.

Of the 709 fatal opioid overdoses since 2016, 505 involved fentanyl/heroin, and 204 involved prescription drugs.

Those are some of the key statistics in a new opioid data dashboard rolled out by the Fairfax County Health Department in collaboration with the Opioid and Substance Use Task Force.

“The goal of the dashboard is to ensure that Fairfax County residents understand the threat that opioid drugs pose in our community and recognize that overdoses and overdose deaths affect a wide range of ages, people of both sexes, and all racial and ethnic groups,” said Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, Director of Epidemiology and Population Health at the Health Department.

“We want the public to be aware of overdose trends, which reflect the impacts of social factors, the types and availability of drugs, and the effect of mitigation measures including law enforcement, treatment, and harm reduction measures,” Schwartz said.

The Community Services Board offers a range of services for drug addicts, including walk-in screenings, detoxification services, outpatient and residential treatment, peer support, and REVIVE! training on the use of naloxone (Narcan) to revive overdose victims.

Information on the dashboard comes from the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics, which is managed by the Virginia Department of Health, and the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.