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Bathed in Teal, Alexandria City Hall Raises Awareness of Opioid Recovery

Alexandria City Hall bathed in teal to raise awareness of addiction recovery. (Photo: John David Coppola/The Zebra Press)

ALEXANDRIA, VA – International Overdose Awareness Day is today, Aug. 31. Alexandria City Hall has been bathed in teal since Sunday.  The facade of the city landmark will remain that color until Sept. 1. The color represents addiction recovery awareness.

An annual campaign since 2001, International Overdose Awareness Day has a four-part-goal: end overdose incidents, remember – without stigma – those who have died, acknowledge the grief of family and friends, and help people learn that substance use issues can be treated.

Photo: Jon David Coppola/The Zebra Press

According to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose deaths in the United States rose 29.4 percent in 2020 to an estimated 93,331, including 69,710 involving opioids. The Virginia Department of Health reported in April that overdose deaths in the state rose 41.2% in 2020 to an estimated 2,297, with fentanyl-related overdoses accounting for 1,655 (71 percent) of all fatal overdoses.

In Alexandria alone, even though the percentage of fatal overdoses decreased from 14 percent in 2019 to 12 percent in in 2020, the number of overdoses increased by nearly 36 percent.

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A city press release stated that the increase in overdoses seen nationwide last year “was driven by the use of synthetic opioids.”  Fentanyl, for example, is 100 times more potent than morphine.

If used immediately after an overdose, Narcan saves lives. Residents can obtain Narcan for free by calling the Alexandria Health Department. (Photo: John David Coppola/The Zebra Press)

The Department of Community and Human Services, operating 24 hours a day, can help locate treatment for anyone struggling with addiction. Call 703-746-3636. For help with opiod and heroin addiction specifically, call 703-746-3610.

To celebrate National Recovery Month in Sept., Alexandria will host events, educational opportunities, and help residents raise awareness among their family, friends, and co-workers.

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Kevin Dauray

Kevin is Publisher's Assistant and Senior Editor with The Zebra Press. He has been working for Alexandria's "Good News" newspaper since 2019. A graduate of George Mason University, he earned a bachelor's in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. He also studied at the Columbia School of Broadcasting and holds a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University. He is an alumnus of T.C. Williams High School. Go Titans!

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