What is the Opioid Work Group?
City staff and community partners are working together to respond locally to the effects of the opioid crisis through the Opioid Work Group. Formed in 2015, the Work Group is a multi-agency partnership comprised of representatives from a range of city services and community partners that takes a multi-dimensional approach to attacking the crisis.
The Work Group collects and shares data, is working to understand the scope of the problem and design strategies to address the crisis. In July 2017, they drafted an initial list of priorities to address opioid misuse and overdose deaths in the city. Mirroring the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis plan, this initial plan is holistic, system-wide and focuses on five key areas:
- Opioid addiction prevention and education
- Opioid addiction treatment
- Overdose response and recovery
- Diversion of people with addiction into treatment
- Supply reduction and law enforcement strategies
Opioid Work Group's Strategic Three Year Plan
In January 2020, the Work Group finalized the City's Strategic Three-Year Plan (2023-2026) to eliminate opioid misuse and its harmful effects throughout Alexandria. Developed through extensive engagement with community members and experts, the Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy addressing the local impacts of the opioid crisis. It establishes goals in five key areas: prevention and education, treatment and recovery, supply reduction, diversion to treatment, and coordinated overdose response.
To drive action and measurable results, the City has launched new opioid work group subcommittees, focused on implementing and advancing the Plan’s objectives. These subcommittees are actively working to strengthen community partnerships, expand access to evidence-based treatment, and enhance harm reduction efforts.
As part of Alexandria’s ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability, a midpoint strategic plan report will be released in summer 2025, providing updates on progress, key milestones, and areas for further action in the city’s opioid response efforts."
View or download a copy of the plan: Strategic Three-Year Plan (2023-2026)
Who participates in the Opioid Work Group?
- Alexandria City Public Schools
- Alexandria Fire Department
- Alexandria Health Department
- Alexandria Police Department
- Alexandria Sheriff's Office
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- Commonweath's Attorney's Office
- Department of Community and Human Services
- Guest House
- Inova Alexandria Hospital
- Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
- Virginia Department of Corrections/Probation and Parole
What has the Work Group Accomplished so far?
The Work Group welcomes community input, cooperation, and participation in ongoing and future projects and initiatives. For more information or to get involved, contact Opioid Response Coordinator Hope Sievers at Kirstin.Sievers@alexandriava.gov or 703.328.3792