Published: 04/17/2026 | Author: Eric Owens

A team at Virginia Commonwealth University is flipping the script on how we fight the opioid crisis, not by fixating on where it’s worst, but by studying “bright spots” where communities are quietly winning. For the millions affected by opioid addiction across the country, their findings could offer a replicable path forward.

Virginia’s proud history has enabled residents to be resilient no matter what the circumstances. Indeed, the Old Dominion boasts a wealth of grassroots programs and peer support groups like Narcotics Anonymous and other support groups. 

The Opioid Crisis by the Numbers

Nevertheless, more than five Virginians die each day from an opioid overdose, making fatal overdoses the state’s leading cause of unnatural death since 2013.

However, these aren’t just statistics. Behind every stat is a family shattered by fentanyl, heroin addiction, or prescription opioid misuse. They represent parents who won’t come home, children growing up without a guardian, and neighbors lost to a disease that does not discriminate by zip code.

The Bright Spots Research Model’s Findings

Rather than concentrating solely on overdose hot spots, VCU’s Dr. Jacqueline Britz and her team are identifying “positive deviants.” They find communities that are mitigating substance misuse much better than expected despite facing the same social and economics as their neighbors.

The methodology is data-driven and rigorous. For instance, by analyzing the Virginia All-Payer Claims Database alongside census data, Britz’s team has built a statistical model that looks beyond raw mortality and overdose rates. They identify which communities consistently outperform their expected opioid mortality over several years.

The concept draws on a public health framework called Positive Deviance, which was famously used to combat childhood malnutrition in Vietnam by finding low-income families whose children were nonetheless thriving. They then scaled what those families were doing differently and applied them to a broader area to change the surrounding environment. Today, Britz is applying the same logic to opioid addiction by replacing “what is wrong” with “what is already going right.”

A Toolkit Built for Communities Fighting the Opioid Crisis

The research isn’t sitting in a journal. Britz and her team developed the Virginia Opioid Abatement Toolkit, a first-of-its-kind, state-specific, evidence-based guide for cities and counties on how to deploy opioid abatement funds and coordinate with various partners. Thousands of visitors and users across Virginia have already accessed the toolkit’s guidelines.

The toolkit team has attended 100+ national and community events and participated in 67 city and county task force meetings. They assured that those in under-resourced communities have access to strategies proven to reduce opioid-related deaths.

The goal is for smaller communities who might lack resources to “feel like they have a seat at the table,” said Tyler Burton, the toolkit manager and a former health department opioid response coordinator. The toolkit is publicly accessible here.

What This Means for Opioid Addiction Treatment

The bright spots model reinforces what recovery advocates and Narcotics Anonymous members have known for decades: community-driven solutions work. For people in active opioid addiction, that community can start with a single NA meeting. Peer support, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and naloxone access remain the most immediate life-saving tools available. Research like this helps communities invest in them more effectively.

If you or someone you love is struggling with narcotic addiction, proven options are available right now. You can look for an NA meeting in your area or call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) to meet with peers and take the first step towards a healthier future.