Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse, Abuse Services
Prescription Drug Abuse is Rampant in Southwest Virginia
nPrescription Drug Epidemic since 1997 nOver 200 deaths annually since 2003 from overdoses
nDeaths  represents a 300% increase
nPredominantly people under 40
-In Southwest Virginia, our prescription Drug Epidemic, which began in 1997, was a preamble to our current  Methamphetamine problem.
-While Methamphetamine continues to be on the rise, unfortunately, in a lot of our Southwest Virginia Counties, Opiates remain our primary drug of concern.