Virginia Opioid Crisis Costs Soar, But Deaths Are Down

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia’s opioid crisis is incredibly expensive. Teh state lost $5.2 billion in 2023, a big jump from $3.5 billion in 2020, according to new research from Virginia Commonwealth University‘s Center of Society and Health. It’s a staggering number.

The seven-year study shows most of these costs aren’t shouldered by the government. Instead, families and households pay the price-mostly through lost wages and reduced productivity after fatal overdoses. It’s a heartbreaking reality.

“The true cost is measured in lives, families, and communities, but we know that this affects every single community,” said Derek Chapman, director of VCU’s Center of Society and Health. “This isn’t just a rural Virginia issue-this is all across virginia.”

VCU researchers created a map pinpointing the areas hit hardest. Central Virginia is suffering.Richmond, Hopewell, and Petersburg are seeing the biggest economic impact. Richmond faces $2,300 per person, totaling $526 million. Hopewell sees $2,300 per person, or $52 million. Petersburg experiences $2,000 per person, totaling $68 million.

“What varies by person and varies by community is the resources that we have access to stay alive, to stay safe and to recover,” explained Lucy Hahn, user experience designer with VCU’s Center of Society and Health. Access to help makes a difference.

This research aims to direct resources to the areas that need them most. The goal? Reduce deaths and support recovery.

“What we need to do is scale up those investments, and this is a way of showing the scale of how much we could potentially accomplish together economically,” Hahn said. More funding could lead to significant improvements.

There’s some good news, though. Opioid overdose deaths have dropped almost 50%, from 2,058 in 2023 to 1,066 in 2024, according to the Virginia Department of Health.That’s a significant decline. Chapman believes this is thanks to investments in recovery programs.

Prevention and treatment programs offer a strong return on investment. Studies show that every dollar spent on substance use prevention results in $18 in savings. It’s a smart investment that saves lives and money.