Drug deaths: Jan.-June 2019 vs. Jan.-June 2020

During the first half of this year, at least 1,086 Virginians died from drug overdoses -- a 39% increase from the first half of 2019. Drug fatalities rose in 77 of the state's 133 cities and counties, especially in Richmond, Roanoke and certain rural localities such as Warren and Henry counties.

Beware that in sparsely populated localities, the percentage change may be based on just a handful of deaths.
Map: By Jeff South for Virginia Mercury Source: Virginia Medical Examiner's Office Get the data