A look at Fairfax County’s newest resource to combat rising youth overdoses

ALEXANDRIA, Va. ( DC News Now ) — As Fairfax County works to cut down the rising number of young people who overdose on opioids, it has a new resource to help those struggling with substances.

The potentially life-saving Youth Medication-Assisted Treatment (YMAT) program is expanding from one facility, to as many as five by the end of the summer.

The program helps connect youth struggling with substance-use disorder with a medication called Suboxone that helps combat fentanyl cravings as part of their recovery treatment.

According to the county, the pilot YMAT program launched in 2022, and about 35 youth were given medication. They’re hoping at least 150 could be served as a result of the expansion.

That pilot took place at the Sharon Bulova Center, which is in a central location of the county.

Now, a new YMAT center is operational at the Gerry Hyland Goverment Center in Hybla Valley.

Fairfax County Community Services Board staff indicate three other locations could open as soon before this summer ends: the Herndon Resource Center, the High Valley Community Center and the James Lee Center.

The program’s expansion comes due to local resources contributed by the county’s government, and opioid settlement funds the county received.

“We need to protect our community against opioid use disorder,” said LaVurne Williams, division director for Youth and Family Outpatient and Intensive Services.

One proponent of the expansion is Denise Chiarotti, an Arlington resident and recovery advocate.

“Excited,” she told DC News Now when she learned of Fairfax County’s YMAT expansion. “Very excited. Hopeful.” Hopeful.””

Chiarotti said she has been on the medication Suboxone on-and-off for about 15 years, and it has been helpful — as has Naloxone and talk therapy.

“It does combat the cravings,” she said. “It makes you sleepy, but like all medication you get used to it. It definitely helps.”

Dana Johnson, youth and family manager of YMAT, said the county has seen “a huge increase in opiate overdoses in our youth.”

According to data from the Fairfax Health District, non-fatal overdoses of those 17-and-younger increased from 12 in 2021, to 27 in 2022 to 58 in 2023. The number through the first six months of 2024 is down to nine.

“Everyone is committed as a systemwide team to decreasing the barriers to service and increasing access to care,” Williams said.

Registered nurse Emily Galey described the intake process.

“They’re going to get a nursing evaluation, they’re going to also meet with the psychiatrist and depending on the evaluation, we’ll go from there in terms of some medication treatment,” she said.

The CSB staff said their patients, who only have to live in Fairfax County, are often referred by a family service worker, probation officer, or family member. They encourage everyone to seek help.

“People stigmatize mental health,” Galey said. “It’s just health.”

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