The study, conducted over seven years, reveals that the vast majority of these costs are borne by families and households, primarily through lifetime lost wages and reduced workplace productivity due to fatal overdoses.

"The true cost is measured in lives, families, and communities, but we know that this affects every single community. This isn't just a rural Virginia issue this is all across Virginia," said Derek Chapman, director of VCU's Center of Society and Health.

VCU researchers developed a map showing where costs are highest across the state. In Central Virginia, Richmond, Hopewell and Petersburg show the highest economic impact from opioid deaths. Richmond faces $2,300 per person in costs totaling $526 million, while Hopewell sees $2,300 per person totaling $52 million, and Pete

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