Hidden Patterns, Urgent Realities: Uncovering Substance Misuse and Overdose Trends in Greater Hampton Roads
Poster #: 159
Session/Time: B
Author:
Omotomilola O. Jegede, BS, MS
Mentor:
Michele Kekeh, MS, PhD
Research Type: Public Health
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Substance use remains a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in Virginia, with local disparities shaping community health outcomes. The Greater Hampton Roads (GHR) region, encompassing both urban and suburban areas, faces a growing burden of alcohol and drug misuse, including opioid-related harms. Understanding geographic variation in these outcomes is essential to inform place-based prevention and intervention strategies.
METHODS:
Data were extracted from the publicly accessible GHR Community Indicators Dashboard for six localities: Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. Indicators included alcohol-impaired driving deaths, hospitalization rates related to adolescent and adult alcohol use, drug and opioid overdose deaths, emergency department (ED) admissions due to substance use, and fentanyl-related mortality. Comparative analyses were conducted across jurisdictions to identify disparities and emerging trends.
RESULTS:
Marked intercity variation was observed across the GHR region. Virginia Beach reported the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired driving deaths (36.7%). Norfolk demonstrated the highest hospitalization rates from adolescent (3.8 per 10,000) and adult (28.9 per 10,000) alcohol use, as well as the highest heroin overdose death rate (7.3 per 100,000). Portsmouth experienced the most severe outcomes, including the highest opioid overdose death rate (40.4 per 100,000), drug poisoning death rate (75.9 per 100,000), fentanyl-related death rate (78.3 per 100,000), and ED admissions due to opioids (81.0 per 10,000).
CONCLUSION:
Findings reveal stark disparities in substance use outcomes across GHR, with Portsmouth and Norfolk bearing the heaviest burden. These results highlight the urgency of tailoring community-specific prevention, harm reduction, and recovery strategies to mitigate overdose deaths and substance-related hospitalizations. Regional data-driven approaches are critical to advancing health equity and resilience in Virginia communities.
Substance use remains a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in Virginia, with local disparities shaping community health outcomes. The Greater Hampton Roads (GHR) region, encompassing both urban and suburban areas, faces a growing burden of alcohol and drug misuse, including opioid-related harms. Understanding geographic variation in these outcomes is essential to inform place-based prevention and intervention strategies.
METHODS:
Data were extracted from the publicly accessible GHR Community Indicators Dashboard for six localities: Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. Indicators included alcohol-impaired driving deaths, hospitalization rates related to adolescent and adult alcohol use, drug and opioid overdose deaths, emergency department (ED) admissions due to substance use, and fentanyl-related mortality. Comparative analyses were conducted across jurisdictions to identify disparities and emerging trends.
RESULTS:
Marked intercity variation was observed across the GHR region. Virginia Beach reported the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired driving deaths (36.7%). Norfolk demonstrated the highest hospitalization rates from adolescent (3.8 per 10,000) and adult (28.9 per 10,000) alcohol use, as well as the highest heroin overdose death rate (7.3 per 100,000). Portsmouth experienced the most severe outcomes, including the highest opioid overdose death rate (40.4 per 100,000), drug poisoning death rate (75.9 per 100,000), fentanyl-related death rate (78.3 per 100,000), and ED admissions due to opioids (81.0 per 10,000).
CONCLUSION:
Findings reveal stark disparities in substance use outcomes across GHR, with Portsmouth and Norfolk bearing the heaviest burden. These results highlight the urgency of tailoring community-specific prevention, harm reduction, and recovery strategies to mitigate overdose deaths and substance-related hospitalizations. Regional data-driven approaches are critical to advancing health equity and resilience in Virginia communities.