New River Valley seeing a rise in drug overdoses amid coronavirus pandemic
Hospital visits caused by unintentional drug overdoses nearly doubled in the New River Valley in August. โThe social isolation caused by the pandemic, I think, has made it difficult for some people to cope,โ said Mike Wade, the Community Wellness Coordinator with New River Valley Community Services. Drug overdoses in Southwest Virginia are up 11% since the start of 2020, according to the Virginia Department of Health. New River Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said drugs are also starting to reach a younger age group in the area. โEspecially concerning was in our younger demographic, our 0 to 14 age group and our 15 to 19 age group.