Overdose Deaths In Fairfax Co. On Track To Outpace 2020 Numbers

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Preliminary numbers show the number of overdose deaths in Fairfax County in 2021 are on pace to exceed 2020 numbers, according to data from the Office of the Medical Examiner.

Data provided to Patch shows there were 56 overdose deaths reported to the county in the first two quarters of 2021. Of these, 52 (93 percent) were related to fentanyl. These numbers are subject to change as more information is collected, the county health department said.

Opioids are the number one cause of unnatural death in Fairfax County, the health department said. In 2020, there were 94 overdose deaths; 87 of these deaths (93 percent) were related to fentanyl. In 2019, there were 83 overdose deaths, according to the county. Of these, 67 (80.1 percent) were related to fentanyl.

Nationwide, drug overdoses reached a record high between April 2020 and 2021, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. The American Medical Association has urged President Joe Biden's administration to take concrete steps in curtailing the number of drug overdose deaths. These recommendations include expanding access to treatment and developing a standardized reporting system for reporting drug use statistics.

If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid addiction, Fairfax County and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board have a number of resources to help.

The Fairfax Detoxification Center is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; their number is (703) 502-7000.