Fairfax County has updated its Opioid Response Plan for fiscal years 2026 to 2028, continuing its efforts to address the local effects of the national opioid crisis. The plan builds on strategies first set in motion with the formation of the county’s Opioid and Substance Use Task Force in 2017, involving multiple stakeholders and programs.
The FY 26-28 plan outlines activities across six main areas: Education and Prevention; Early Intervention and Treatment; Data and Monitoring; Criminal Justice and Enforcement; Harm Reduction; and Recovery. The goal is to reduce opioid-related deaths, prevent misuse, improve quality of life for those affected by opioid use disorder, and use data to target interventions.
Recent milestones include supporting Fairfax County Public Schools’ “Become Unskippable” campaign aimed at helping parents discuss opioids and fentanyl with youth, improving access to behavioral health resources for families, extending office hours at the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board’s Addiction Medicine Clinic for adults seeking medication-assisted treatment, and awarding a contract for regional youth detoxification and crisis stabilization services expected to begin in early 2026.
Most initiatives are funded locally, though some also receive federal or state grants. The county is also using opioid settlement funds to advance eight programs.
Officials note that although fatal opioid overdoses have declined nationally, statewide, and locally from 2023 to 2024, overdose rates remain high in the Fairfax Health District. The county plans ongoing adjustments to its programs based on new data and emerging trends such as changes in illicit drug supplies.
“While the national, state and local decline in fatal opioid overdoses from 2023 to 2024 is encouraging, there are still far too many fatal opioid overdoses in the Fairfax Health District and much work to be done to meet the multifaceted needs experienced across the community,” according to a statement from county officials.
“As these programs and activities advance over the next three years, data-informed modifications will be made to enhance effectiveness and adapt to emerging issues/trends (such as the constantly evolving nature of the illicit drug supply). This will ensure that every possible tool and resource available is working towards the goals of reducing opioid deaths, preventing opioid misuse and improving the lives of those impacted by opioid use disorder.”
More information about Fairfax County’s response can be found on their website.
