The national opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on youth and families here in Fairfax County. Young people are particularly vulnerable to the lure of opioids, which can lead to a cycle of dependency and despair. Families are often left to grapple with the emotional and financial toll of addiction. By making Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) available to youth, Fairfax County can provide a lifeline to these families, offering hope and a path to recovery. Ensuring that young people have access to effective treatment not only helps them reclaim their lives but also restores stability and hope to their families, creating a stronger, more united community.

Youth Medication-Assisted Treatment (YMAT) is the use of FDA-approved medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders and prevent opioid overdose. Medications can help ease the discomfort experienced when withdrawing from opioids or other substances and reduce cravings for further use. In response to the allocation of opioid settlement funds, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) is building upon an already robust offering of services for youth and their families affected by opioid use. One immediate action taken by the CSB was to expand the current YMAT services being offered at the Sharon Bulova Center in Merrifield to extend to the Gerry Hyland Government Center in South County which will, together, serve 150 youth annually. LaVurne Williams, division director for Youth & Family Outpatient and Intensive Services, is working with her team to establish new outpatient treatment sites and expand the workforce to offer accessible care to youth and their families.

“Right now, we’re hyper-focused on building up the supportive services that target youth impacted by opioid use. We have never seen such a drastic need for youth services as we are currently experiencing,” observed Williams. “As new projects are launched, the CSB, in collaborative partnership with other groups, will be providing barrier-free, medication-assisted treatment options; assessments; individual, family and group therapy; peer support; and case management to serve this critical population.”

On June 7, 2024, leadership and staff from the CSB gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the newly expanded YMAT services at the Gerry Highland Center. In honor of the diligence and commitment to serving their community, the program was dedicated to the staff who made this expansion become a reality.

Additional Resources

The CSB is launching more initiatives in response to the significant rise in nonfatal overdoses involving those under the age of 18 in the Fairfax Health District.

Call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for guidance and resources at 703-383-8500 (TTY 711). CSB Emergency Services are available 24/7 at 703-573-5679 (TTY 711).