The drug mortality data visualized in this dashboard are courtesy of the Virginia Medical Examiner Database System (VMEDS). VMEDS is an internal agency database which contains detailed information on all deaths reported to the OCME, regardless of whether the OCME accepted the case or not. Data presented in this dashboard are based on accepted cases of either full autopsy or external exams. Accidental and undetermined fatal drug overdoses (not including homicides and suicides) and included in the dashboard.

Often, drug-related deaths have more than one drug causing or contributing to death. Therefore, deaths in which multiple categories of drugs caused or contributed to death will be represented once within each drug category, but multiple times within the entire dashboard. For example, a fatal cocaine, heroin, and Alprazolam overdose death will be counted in the cocaine drop down, the heroin drop down, and the benzodiazepine drop down.

Due to the nature of law enforcement and OCME death investigation, all deaths presented in this report are based upon locality of occurrence and not residential status of the decedent. This dashboard compiles data on drugs causing or contributing to death in fatal drug overdose cases. This report does not include data on drugs detected, but not contributing or causing death. For more information, please visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/medExam/AboutMedExaminer.htm or contact Kathrin "Rosie" Hobron at Kathrin.Hobron@vdh.virginia.gov.

Use the drop down filters or click areas of the map or table to adjust the data in this report. Please use caution when interpreting data with sample sizes of less than 10. Demographics are suppressed if counts equal fewer than five cases.