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In This Issue
- A Note from the VDH Naloxone Distribution Team
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What's New?
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Program Reminders
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Distribution Data
- Presentations
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A Note from the VDH Naloxone Distribution Team
Happy Summer, naloxone partners! As we close out State Fiscal Year 2025 (SFY25), we are grateful for your continued collaboration and participation in the Naloxone Distribution Program. A few highlights from SFY25:
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VDH welcomed 192 new partner organizations to the No-Cost Naloxone Distribution Program
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Registered 663 partner organizations in the new Pharmacy Partner Hub
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Shipped nearly 160,000 naloxone kits to partner organizations, a 10% increase in distribution from the prior fiscal year
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Expanded harm reduction test strip eligibility to additional organization types and shipped over 355,000 test strips to partners, a 15% increase in distribution from the prior fiscal year
VDH continues to strategize ways to best serve the high-priority organizations and individuals across the Commonwealth with the greatest need for support from this program, and we are always appreciative of partner feedback. VDH will be sending end-of-year surveys to all partners in the coming weeks; this is a great opportunity to provide feedback about the program!
- The Naloxone Distribution Program
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What's New?
International Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is August 31, 2025. This serves as a day of remembrance for loved ones and friends that have been lost to overdose, and a day of encouragement and support of those in recovery from substance use disorder. In recognition of IOAD, the Naloxone Distribution Program is temporarily lifting the restriction on distribution to only high-risk individuals. Partners may expand distribution of naloxone, harm reduction test strips, and supplies to the general public for events related to overdose awareness.
Partners may order naloxone for distribution for the general public until August 30, 2025. Please continue to include a description of your plans for any orders greater than 100 naloxone kits.
We would love to hear about your naloxone distribution activities in support of International Overdose Awareness Day! Please share any event updates, including pictures, with us at opioidreversal@vdh.virginia.gov.
Naloxone Distribution Program Office Hours
The Naloxone Distribution Program is hosting a monthly office hour session that all partners and prospective partners are welcome to attend. During these office hours, Program staff will be available to answer questions and provide guidance about the Naloxone Distribution Program and the Pharmacy Partner Hub.
The next office hour will be held Thursday, August 14, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. If you are interested in attending, please save the details below to your calendar:
Meeting ID: 244 249 202 232
Phone conference ID: 286 198 740#
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Allowable Use for Harm Reduction Test strips
Harm Reduction Test strips received from VDH are intended for harm reduction purposes only. Eligible organizations may provide the test strips to clients so that clients may use the strips to test a drug for the presence of substances that may exacerbate an overdose. Test strips received from VDH may not be used for investigative or diagnostic purposes (e.g., urinalysis, testing confiscated substances, etc.).
As these are over-the-counter products, it is permissible for clients to accept test strips and/or naloxone to provide to other community members; therefore, acceptance of these products should not be considered evidence of drug use.
It is not permissible for an organization that receives test strips from VDH to distribute these test strips to another organization.
Xylazine Test Strip Expiration Date Extension
VDH recently received notice of an expiration date extension from Premier Biotech, the manufacturer of the Xylazine test strips that VDH provides to partners at no cost. Some Xylazine test strips now have an expiration extended beyond the date printed on the label. Please refer to this notice for details about the impacted lot numbers: Premier Biotech Expiration Date Extension Letter for Xylazine Test Strips.
Please do not return these test strips to VDH or throw them out! VDH asks that you please print a copy of this notice for your records and inform your clients of this change when distributing test strips.
Special Delivery Instructions
If your shipping address has special delivery instructions (e.g., limited delivery window, specific drop-off location details) please indicate these instructions in the “comments” section of your naloxone order.
VDH will do our best to communicate special delivery instructions to UPS to avoid orders being returned to the Pharmacy. Please reach out to us at opioidreversal@vdh.virginia.gov if you have questions about your order!
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Naloxone Distribution Data – SFY25
VDH shipped 158,700 naloxone kits to partners in SFY25 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025).
The chart below shows naloxone distributed by partner type in
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Upcoming Presentations
OAA Abatement Academy
Establishing naloxone and harm reduction vending machines within at-risk communities
City of Richmond, VA
- Date: August 28, 2025 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Register here
In Case You Missed It...
Virginia Campus Forum
Navigating the New Training Requirements for RAs
Virginia ABC and Virginia College Collaborative hosted a forum on May 19, 2025, to discuss the new opioid antagonist training requirements for RAs as enacted by the General Assembly in the 2025 session.
- Date: May 19, 2025
- View the slide deck here
Virginia OAA Abatement Academy
Separating myth from reality: Liability questions around the administration of naloxone
- Date: June 12, 2025
- View the slide deck here
- View the video recording here
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We want to hear from you!
If you have questions or feedback, please contact the Naloxone Distribution Team.
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