Treatment Centers Adapt to Pandemic Realities as Drug Overdoses Spike
With the COVID-19 pandemic infecting every part of life, many people have struggled with mental health issues. That s one factor behind a spike in drug overdoses in 2020, which has forced treatment providers to quickly adapt their services to the pandemic world. (Photo: Cirxell Matthews/VPM News)
Preliminary data from the Virginia Department of Health shows a huge increase in fatal drug overdoses in 2020.
A report released by the VDH this January found that 1,626 overdoses occurred statewide in 2019, the largest annual total in Virginia s history. Prescription opioid overdoses did not see a significant increase, but drugs containing fentanyl, a powerful opioid which is fatal at lower doses, contributed to 59% of all overdoses in 2019.
Rewarding a Peer Recovery Specialist who goes above and beyond for others
Rewarding a Peer Recovery Specialist who goes above and beyond for others
and last updated 2021-01-18 18:37:24-05
RICHMOND, Va. Michael Braswell s boss asked him to come into the office to pick something up on Friday, and when he arrived, he suddenly found himself being interviewed by CBS 6 s Melissa Hipolit, on camera.
She pretended to ask him questions about what it was like doing his job during COVID-19, when she finally revealed the true reason she was there: to thank Braswell for his hard work as part of CBS 6 Gives, with the help of our friends at Virginia Credit Union.
and last updated 2021-01-15 12:29:50-05
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. Watching a video about the French Revolution, Kyleigh Fannin struggles to interpret what she is supposed to be learning.
The pandemic has forced the Glen Allen High School ninth-grade student into virtual learning since March.
Fannin, 14, said much of her new form of schooling consists of watching videos and trying to stay focused. Tests and quizzes started to get harder, just a bunch of things started to go downhill I feel like, Fannin said.
Fannin s mother, Jennifer Farmer, said things really started to spiral in the fall. She s never had Fs or Ds and now we have several, Farmer said. She just wasn t getting up out of bed, her demeanor was different, she had a different attitude, just not happy, sad, not engaged, shut in her room a lot.
: :
FILE PHOTO: Richmond Police face off with protesters back in June. The protests against racism and police brutality this summer amplified calls for a civilian review board for police misconduct. (Crixell Matthews/VPM)
Richmond City Council’s Governmental Operations Committee approved a new slate of candidates to a task force working to establish a civilian review board for police misconduct.
The Task Force for Establishing a Civilian Review Board will outline both how the future board will operate and investigate reports of police misconduct. Council delayed putting together a final list of nominations for weeks, as they debated whether two former law enforcement officers should be allowed to serve on the board. In October, City Council’s Public Safety Committee nominated former Petersburg Police Chief John Dixon III and former officer Charlene Hinton.