Polysubstance misuse is becoming a growing public health concern in Fairfax, Virginia. A recent Fairfax, VA Patch article highlights how the combination of opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, and other substances is driving a significant portion of overdose deaths across the county. According to the report, nearly 80 percent of overdose fatalities involved fentanyl or synthetic opioids, often mixed with depressants that increase the risk of respiratory failure. Understanding Polysubstance Misuse in Fairfax Polysubstance misuse refers to using multiple drugs simultaneously or in overlapping patterns. In Fairfax County, emergency responders and healthcare providers are seeing more cases where individuals are affected by several substances at once. These combinations make overdoses harder to reverse and complicate detox and recovery efforts. Local data shows that while overall overdose numbers may fluctuate, the prevalence of multi-drug involvement remains consistently high. Substances s...
