Strategy
Enrich Prevention Strategies
Read Examples of OAA Funded Proposals
See how other cities and counties are implementing their opioid abatement activities.
Explore Innovative Programs
Learn from innovative or evidence-based programs implemented by others.
Resources, Training & Guidelines
Locate resources, educational materials, and evidence-based guidelines to implement successful interventions.
Preventing future opioid misuse is essential to curbing the opioid and overdose epidemic. Effective prevention strategies can reduce the likelihood that individuals at risk for substance use begin misusing opioids or develop opioid use disorder.
Effective prevention strategies include the use of media campaigns to increase awareness about the risks associated with opioid use, addiction, and available treatment options; medical provider education to promote responsible opioid prescribing practices, alternative pain management strategies, and recognizing signs of addiction; and community-based interventions to reduce stigma around addiction and providing support to affected individuals.
Resources for mental health are also critical. Over 40% of people who receive treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) also have a mental health diagnosis. Substance use often occurs to cope with symptoms of a mental health condition, although either can develop first. As such, mental health treatment is critical to SUD treatment.
Evidence-Based Strategies
Parent Education and Family Support Programs
Provide parents with the knowledge and skills to prevent opioid misuse among their children. This may involve workshops, support groups, or online resources that address topics such as communication skills, setting boundaries, and recognizing signs of drug use.
- Choose evidence-based programs that have been proven effective, such as the Botvin LifeSkills Parent Program.
- Offer programs in accessible formats (evenings, weekends, online).
- Provide culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate materials.
- Partner with schools and community organizations to reach parents.
- Include opportunities for peer support and sharing of experiences.
- The Virginia Department of Social Services’ “Kinship Navigator (KinNav) Expansion” project seeks to enhance kinship navigator programs in collaboration with local governments and community partners to support guardianship arrangements for children removed from their homes due to parental substance use. The initiative incorporates screenings for substance use issues to better allocate resources and address the growing demand for these services in partner jurisdictions.
- The One Pill Can Kill Campaign is a funded Opioid Abatement Authority PSA campaign dedicated to educating Virginians about fentanyl and other resources for combating the opioid epidemic.
- OAA Funded
- Virginia Beach City created a teen outreach media campaign dedicated towards prevention with the Charrette Agency. The marketing efforts focus on harm reduction, prevention, and treatment. A team of youth ambassadors and community health workers collaborated to spread the materials to local youth.
- Youth
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- Washington County, City of Staunton, and Augusta County are partnering to provide a three tier substance use harm reduction curriculum. The tiers represent prevention, peer support, and self-accountability. This partnership also includes the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHS) Region 3 localities.
- Youth
- State Agency
- Cooperative Partnership
- OAA Funded 2026
- In Henrico County, a multisubstance-targeted marketing campaign towards adolescents for addictive behaviors. The content consists of educating the youth on cannabis, vaping, tobacco, THC, fentanyl-laced substances, alcohol, and gambling.
- OAA Funded
- Youth
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2026
- The Northwestern Community Service Board (NWCSB) is providing teen Mental Health Youth First Aid to 9th grade students. NWCSB hired a coordinator of the program to provide instruction and training to both teachers and students. Localities partnering in this are Clark County, City of Staunton, and City of Waynesboro.
- OAA Funded
- Youth
- Expansion of Services
- Cooperative Partnership
- OAA Funded 2026
- Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board is expanding their medicated assisted treatment program to include transitional age youth (up to 26) with case management and care coordination.
- OAA Funded
- Gold Standard
- Youth
- Expansion of Services
- Individual Distribution
-
Recovery Outloud is an Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) stigma prevention project within the Northern Virginia region, which includes Loudoun, Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William counties, as well as the cities of Alexandria and Fairfax. The program aims to help eliminate the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and encourage community building in public spaces among people who have experienced substance use disorder.
- OAA Funded 2027
- Gold Standard
- Cooperative Partnership
-
The Fantasyland/Lions Park Rejuvenation and Community Safety Project is a public park restoration project in Warren County. Intentions behind the funding project include lowering the amount of illicit substance use and limiting the number of overdoses in the area. Revitalization of the park includes playground improvements, ADA-compliant equipment, and safety enhancements.
- OAA Funded 2027
- Gold Standard
- Youth
- Individual Distribution
-
Henrico County’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” educates adults who work with youth and families about risky behaviors and ways substances may be hidden in the home. The interactive exhibit recreates a teen’s bedroom and highlights potential warning signs. Funds purchased a trailer to transport the program materials throughout the county for expanded training.
- Youth
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2027
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Isaiah 117 House is a non-profit organization that provides a safe, home-like space for children entering government custody while they await permanent placement. Its primary goal is to reduce trauma during this critical transition. Two cooperative grants are operating homes. One is a cooperative partnership involving Washington and Smyth counties and the City of Bristol. The other is a cooperative between Scott and Roanoke counties and the City of Salem. Each house operates to bring children to safety and offer immediate comfort in their time of need.
- Youth
- Gold Standard
- Cooperative Partnership
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2027
School-Based Prevention Programs
School-based programs can reach a large number of young people and provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to avoid opioid misuse. These programs teach students about the risks of drug use, including opioids, and provide them with skills to resist peer pressure and make healthy choices.
- Choose evidence-based programs that have been proven effective, such as the Botvin LifeSkills Training Program.
- Involve students, parents, and community members in program planning and implementation.
- Provide ongoing training and support to teachers and staff.
- Evaluate program effectiveness and make adjustments as needed.
The Commonwealth’s Examples
- Roanoke City’s pilot after-school and summer program for children at the West End Center for Youth will focus on children’s social development skills, academic support, and wellness education, while. The Family Services employees and staff will also attend Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) training.
- OAA Funded
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- The Eastern Shore Community Services Board has created an evidence based, 4-6 lesson, classroom-based program that focuses on skill building strategies that assist students in developing healthy choices. Parents can join the conversation with a family discussion guide, featuring info on the warning signs of opioid misuse.
- Rural
- Youth
- Warren County initiated an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) program titled Program HOPE (Hopefulness for Opiate Prevention Efforts). Combined with Botvin Life Skill courses, the three-pronged program teaches life skills to students, promotes prevention marketing, reviews the importance of proper narcotic storage in homes, and includes ACEs education sessions.
- OAA Funded
- Youth
- Rural
- Individual Distribution
- A middle school age centered summer camp in Warren County focuses on the importance between substance education and life skills. The program consists of four pillars: skill building, teaching, fun, and mentorship to encourage healthy lifestyles.
- OAA Funded
- Youth
- Rural
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2026
- Wythe County Public Schools hired a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist for students and their families. The specialist will primarily serve the middle school population by developing curriculum materials, offer community outreach, and promote prevention methods.
- OAA Funded
- Rural
- Youth
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- Warren County, Page County, Shenandoah County, and Waynesboro City are partnering to fund River Ridge Learning Center: a recovery high school. The school will offer counseling services, chemical dependency education, peer recovery services and family engagement resources.
- OAA Funded
- Youth
- Rural
- Cooperative Partnership
- OAA Funded 2026
- Virginia Beach Recovery School, Hope Harbor, serves students in grades 9 through 12 from Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. Students enrolled in the program have access to therapeutic services, a clinical coordinator, peer-recovery support, and dedicated teaching resources that help them stay engaged academically while focusing on their recovery. The school provides a structured environment that supports both academic progress and sustained recovery. Staff work closely with families and community partners to ensure students can maintain sobriety while building the skills and confidence needed for long-term success.
- OAA Funded
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- Cooperative
- OAA Funded 2026
- Children participating in a Warren County Summer camp are now able to attend because of the use of individual distribution funds. The funds go directly towards a van and plan to be sustainable through park department funding.
- Gold Standard
- Youth
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2027
- Youth Mental Health First Ad Training will now be offered in Franklin County Public Schools. This program is to assist staff and community members with the tools to intervene appropriately for a mental health crisis.
- Youth
- Rural
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2027
- The Workforce Education and Training initiative is a prevention-focused program for the City of Colonial Heights staff. Subjects part of this initiative include stigma reduction related to SUD, policy awareness, and the technology where the training sessions are located.
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2027
- Chesterfield County, along with the cities of Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond, provides school-based prevention and anti-truancy education for students. The Communities In Schools (CIS) program is an anti-dropout initiative where students, staff, and families partner to participate in all 3 tiers of support.
- Youth
- Cooperative Partnership
- Individual Distribution
- OAA Funded 2027
Safe Storage and Disposal of Opioids
Many people who misuse prescription opioids obtain them from friends or family members. Safe storage and disposal can help prevent these medications from falling into the wrong hands. Promote safe storage of prescription opioids in the home and provide access to safe disposal options to prevent diversion and misuse. This includes educating the public about proper storage practices, distributing lock boxes or medication disposal pouches, and establishing drug take-back programs.
- Launch public awareness campaigns about safe storage and disposal.
- Partner with pharmacies and healthcare providers to distribute lock boxes and disposal pouches.
- Establish permanent drug take-back locations in convenient locations.
Organize periodic take-back events through churches, pharmacies, and other community organizations to collect unused medications.
- Contact your local Virginia Department of Health District or Community Service Board for medication disposal kits. Both entities will know the location of the medication incinerators and who to contact for medication lock boxes.
- Expansion of Services
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The Sussex Safety First program is an initiative that focuses on safe storage of medications and the importance of securing narcotic medications. The lock box program is also partnered with an online media campaign promoted through newspapers and community events.
- OAA Funded
- Youth
- Gold Standard
- Individual Distribution
