Opioid Treatment and MAT in Richmond, VA
Richmond has methadone OTPs, office-based buprenorphine, and public doors that can point to detox and MOUD. Opioid care here should start with medication access, not a marketing tour.
How bad the opioid problem is here
City of Richmond materials citing VDH OCME preliminary 2023 data report about 297 overdose deaths and about 270 opioid-involved deaths in the city. Richmond City Health District reported a 40% decrease in drug-overdose deaths and a 46% decrease in opioid-overdose deaths in 2024 (preliminary as of June 2025).
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) near Richmond
Medication-assisted treatment - also called medications for opioid use disorder, or MOUD - uses one of three FDA-approved medications alongside counseling. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
- Methadone is a full opioid agonist that relieves withdrawal and cravings. It is dispensed through certified opioid treatment programs.
- Buprenorphine is a partial agonist that reduces cravings and withdrawal, and can be prescribed in a doctor's office.
- Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors so opioids no longer produce a high. It can be started only after opioids have cleared the body.
Research is clear that people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or to have an overdose than those who go without treatment.
Within 30 miles of Richmond (ZIP 23219), the SAMHSA locator lists:
- 44 treatment facilities total
- 7 federally certified opioid treatment programs
- 27 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine
- 25 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) and Richmond City Health District partners are primary public-network doors. Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current options on the locator.
Naloxone and harm reduction in Richmond
Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and cannot hurt someone who is not overdosing. Access it through Virginia pharmacy access and Richmond City Health District / regional harm-reduction partners.
If someone is unresponsive, breathing slowly, or has pinpoint pupils, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it.
Paying for opioid treatment
Virginia Medicaid (Cardinal Care / DMAS) covers medically necessary substance use disorder treatment, including MOUD, through participating providers when you are eligible. Confirm your plan and network before you commit. If you are uninsured, ask Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) and Richmond City Health District partners about sliding-fee options.
How to start today
- If someone is overdosing, call 911 now and give naloxone. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to speak with a treatment specialist, or use this form:
Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers, and we check your benefits before you commit.
- Search findtreatment.gov with ZIP code 23219 and filter for medication-assisted treatment or buprenorphine.
- Ask any program directly whether they can start buprenorphine quickly - same-week starts are common in many metros.
Opioid use disorder is a treatable medical condition, and the medications that treat it are covered here for eligible members. The hardest part is usually the first call, not the treatment itself.