Richmond Overdose Calls Are Down Nearly Half. Here Is What That Means.

Oct 2

3 min read

Richmond Ambulance Authority responded to 1,991 overdose calls in 2022. In 2025 it responded to 1,042. That is a drop of nearly half in three years.

RAA shared the numbers on August 31 at an International Overdose Awareness Day event with Daily Planet Health Services on West Grace Street. The event was held to remember the people our city has lost, and to point people toward help.

We work in recovery every day in Richmond, so we want to walk through what these numbers say, what they do not say, and what you can do with them.

The numbers, year by year

Most of the drop happened in a single year, between 2023 and 2024.

Year	Overdose calls to RAA
2022	1,991
2023	1,967
2024	1,148
2025	1,042
2026, January through July	506

One thing to keep in mind. These are ambulance calls, not a count of every overdose in the city. Some overdoses never lead to a 911 call. Still, fewer emergencies reaching paramedics is a real change, and it has held for two years running.

What RAA says is working

Officials credited three things: recovery outreach, public education, and wider access to naloxone.

RAA also pointed to its First Responders for Recovery program, which started in 2019. It connects people who use substances with recovery resources. In 2025 the agency hired its own Registered Peer Recovery Specialist through a grant from the city of Richmond.

That specialist, Robyn Hantelman, said at the event that the effort is paying off, but "there is still a lot of work left to be done."

None of this surprises us. A peer is someone who has lived it and come out the other side. When a person in crisis hears "I have been where you are" from someone who means it, the conversation changes.

Naloxone: the one thing anyone can carry

Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. It blocks the effects of opioids like heroin, fentanyl, and prescription pain medication. The most common form is a nasal spray.

You do not need to be a medical professional to use it. You do not need to use drugs yourself to carry it. If someone you love is at risk, having it in your bag or your car could matter.

Here is how to get it in Richmond:

Pharmacies sell two dose boxes without a prescription.
Richmond and Henrico Health Districts give it out for free, along with training on how to use it. Visit rhhd.gov.
The city of Richmond has harm reduction vending machines that offer free naloxone and fentanyl test strips around the clock.

If you think someone is overdosing, call 911 first. Then give naloxone if you have it.

The work that is left

Good news can make it easy to relax. We are not there yet.

RAA still answered 1,042 overdose calls last year. That is close to three a day. Every one of them was a person, with people who love them.

Naloxone can reverse an overdose. It does not treat addiction. What happens after the emergency matters just as much. That means treatment, support, and people who stick around.

If you are the one who needs help

You do not have to wait for an emergency. You do not have to hit some imaginary bottom first.

Call us. We will listen, tell you what your options are, and be honest about whether we are the right fit. If we are not, we will help you find who is.

(833) 878-3732

truerecoveryrva.com

If you or someone you know is in crisis right now, call or text 988.