City Hall Lights Up as Alexandria Raises Awareness of Drug Overdoses and Recovery
For Immediate Release: August 28, 2023
Join the City of Alexandria in support of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. This annual campaign works to end overdose incidents; remember those who have died; and raise awareness that substance use disorders can be successfully treated.
City Hall (301 King St.) will be illuminated in purple to represent overdose awareness the evening of August 29 through the morning of September 1. Signs and displays will show data about overdoses and their impact on the community.
Drug overdoses and deaths continued to increase in 2023 in Alexandria as well as across the country, particularly among youth. This increase is driven by the use of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than morphine in unregulated drugs, powders and pills. Fentanyl is often pressed into pills and combined with other substances without the user’s knowledge. Consuming even a small amount can lead to an overdose.
Narcan, a nasal spray that can reverse opioid overdoses, is available by calling the Alexandria Health Department at 703.746.4888 and can be obtained without a prescription at most pharmacies. All residents are encouraged to obtain Narcan as a first aid measure for any incidents they may unexpectedly encounter. The City also offers a mail delivery program for residents to obtain free Narcan and fentanyl test strips, which can detect the presence of fentanyl in a drug, by emailing opioids@alexandriava.gov.
Residents are asked to properly dispose of unwanted medicines at permanent drug drop boxes.
The City’s Department of Community and Human Services can help locate treatment options in Alexandria for anyone dealing with substance use and is available 24 hours a day at 703.746.3636 (Virginia Relay 711). To get help with stopping the use of heroin or other opioids, call the Opioid Treatment Program intake line at 703.746.3610.
To provide information regarding past overdoses or illegal drug activity, please call the Alexandria Police Department at 703.746.6277.
Visit alexandriava.gov/Opioids for more information about the City’s work to battle opioid addiction.
For inquiries from the news media only, please contact City Opioid Response Coordinator Emily Bentley at emily.bentley@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3326.
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