Number of Virginia infants exposed to a substance
The number of infants with substance exposure rose steadily in the past 23 years, with a spike that also parallels increased use of opioids (shown in dash line) throughout the state. The Virginia Department of Health in 2018 became the lead agency to tackle the growing problem.
Line chart shows number of infants with substance exposure. The case rose steadily in the past 23 years, with a sharp spike between 2012-2018 that also parallels increased use of opioids. The Virginia Department of Health in 2018 became the lead agency to tackle the growing problem. Numbers began dipping after 2018.
