Drug overdoses continue to be the leading cause of death in Virginia as they have since 2013, according to a Virginia Department of Health report. The report is from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The report says opioids, specifically illicit fentanyl, have been the driving force behind this. SEE ALSO:Remains of missing woman found in woods, man charged with murder.

Officers and the Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA Task Force seized several firearms and over 5,000 suspected counterfeit fentanyl-laced Percocet pills known to be distributed in Prince William County, police say. This comes afterthe recent deaths of two teens in a 48-hour period in the county. Police saythe deaths appear to be connected to counterfeit forms of the drug Percocet, sometimes referred to as “Perc30. " WATCH LIVE NEWSCAST HERE. SEE ALSO | 2 Va.

Alexandria Police is warning the community about a recent spike in suspected fentanyl-related overdoses, especially in school-aged kids who are using a “little blue pill” they believe is Percocet. SEE ALSO |2 Va. teens dead after overdose on 'Perc30' laced with fentanyl in 48-hr period: Police.

'Open line of communication': Teen drug use is down but overdose deaths for 14 to 18-year-olds are soaring. A new research paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are to blame. 7News On Your Side talked with an expert with what parents should know about the drugs and how to successfully talk with teens. SEE ALSO | 23-year-old charged in connection with fentanyl overdose death of 16-year-old boy.

A Bedford church put thousands of crosses on display Monday to raise awareness about the dangers of opioids and drug addiction as a whole. St. John’s Episcopal Church partnered with the McShin Foundation for “The White Marker Project. ” The white crosses represent Virginians who have died from a drug overdose. ”It is important to mourn the dead, advise the living and destigmatize this health concern so people feel comfortable to come forward and seek recovery,” said Officer Tim Brooke.

Overdose deaths in North Carolina increased by 40% in 2020 and continue to be on the rise. The state Department of Health and Human Services announced the data Monday. It counted more than 3,300 deaths from overdoses — that’s roughly nine per day. That’s also nearly 1,000 more deaths than in 2019. A full tally of overdose deaths in 2021 is not complete, but preliminary data shows a continued increase. More than 70% of fatal overdoses in 2020 involved fentanyl, an illicit opioid.

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A strong warning from the Drug Enforcement Administration: One pill can kill. Caption: WKRC. The pills we're talking about can look just like the real thing but can contain deadly amounts of fentanyl. "The DEA has seen a significant increase in the amount of counterfeit pills that are in our streets in the United States, and it's alarming and concerning," Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Cincinnati District Office of the DEA Jason Schumacher said.