Opioid Abatement Authority approves "Operation Stop" grants targeting localities with rising Black overdose deaths

The Opioid Abatement Authority's Grants Committee voted unanimously to approve "Operation Stop," a competitive grant program that will award up to $500,000 per grant and will not exceed $3 million in total awards. The program is limited to individual cities and counties identified by data from the Virginia Department of Health showing a 100% or greater increase in Black opioid overdose deaths per 100,000 population from 2019 to 2023 and at least 20 opioid fatalities during that period.

Charlie Lenum, the Authority's director of operations, told the committee Operation Stop is designed to help localities implement short‑term education and prevention interventions while they develop longer‑term strategies for deploying opioid settlement funds. "The primary focus of Operation Stop is for cities and counties to implement an immediate short‑term education, prevention program to reduce overdoses and deaths while assisting the community in development of a strategy to use other opioid settlement funds for long‑term opioid abatement projects," Lenum said.

Applications must be submitted through the OA grants portal by April 1, 2025. Awarded cities and counties will begin an initial performance period from July 25, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and may request one renewal or extension into FY27; the program allows a maximum of two performance periods and carry forward of balances as appropriate. Evaluation criteria follow the Authority's statutory rules and require applicants to use data (for example, overdose mapping systems) and to partner with at least one community‑based organization with a record of reaching the identified high‑risk population.

Operation Stop applicants must explain how they will accomplish four objectives: identify residents at highest risk who may be hard to reach; develop and implement targeted outreach and communication to those residents; implement or expand harm reduction efforts for the identified high‑risk population; and implement or expand treatment or recovery support services for that population. A list of eligible cities and counties was referenced in the committee materials and is based on Virginia Department of Health data; the Authority did not read the full list into the record at the meeting.

In public comment, Mike Fatula, opioid response coordinator for the City of Richmond, praised the program and said Richmond plans to apply. "I want to acknowledge the Opioid Abatement Authority for making this move with Operation Stop — using data to identify who's at the highest risk right now of a fatal overdose," Fatula said, adding that the initiative aligns with Richmond's strategic plan.

The committee approved the Operation Stop program by voice vote; the motion was moved and seconded and recorded as unanimous. The Authority's staff said guidance and application instructions will be posted on the OA grants portal and that staff will provide additional outreach to eligible localities.