n September 1, the City’s Opioid Work Group launched “ Think you know about opioids? Think Again,” a social media campaign to raise awareness about opioid misuse, overdose risks, treatment and recovery. 

The campaign invites social media users to share the short videos below and tag three others to share the content with their own networks. 

Opioids are a class of highly addictive drugs that include prescription painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, and illegal drugs like heroin. However, addiction is not always the cause of an overdose. Overdoses can happen to a patient recovering from surgery or injury; a teenager experimenting with illegal drugs for the first time; or a child who ingests leftover medication from a home medicine cabinet. To learn more about how to prevent opioid overdose deaths and respond to an overdose, visit alexandriava.gov/Opioids. To obtain a free dose of Naloxone (Narcan), an easy to use nose spray that can save the life of someone overdosing on opioids, call the Alexandria Health Department at 703.746.4888 or the City’s Opioid Response Coordinator at 703.746.3326. 

The Opioid Work Group is a multi-agency partnership comprised of representatives from a range of City services and community partners that takes a multi-dimensional approach to eliminating opioid misuse and its harmful effects throughout the city of Alexandria.

The campaign was launched on the first day of National Recovery Month, now in its 31st year. The annual awareness month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery, just as the improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease, are also celebrated. Learn more about this national month of recognition, how to celebrate the millions of Americans who are in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders, and treatment programs and services available in Alexandria.