Fairfax, Va. – September 11, 2026 -- Three in four adults believe fear of exposure stops people with substance use disorder from seeking treatment, according to a new survey from Inova Health System.
The survey polled more than 500 Northern Virginia adults
Inova's eighth annual Act on Addiction survey found stigma remains the top barrier to care in the region. Fewer than 20% of respondents knew that substance use is classified as a brain disorder, one that alters brain circuits governing reward, stress and self-control. Nearly 9 in 10 respondents said raising awareness of that fact would reduce stigma in their community.
Trust in community support varies sharply by group
Just 48% of respondents believed their community would be supportive if someone openly discussed their recovery journey. That confidence dropped among women (44%), Black respondents (45%), Hispanic respondents (47%) and rural Virginians (43%).
Nationally, most people needing treatment never get it
In 2022, 75% of Americans who needed treatment for substance use — more than 40 million people — did not receive it. In Virginia, only 30.7% of people who died from an overdose in 2024 had ever received treatment for a mental health or substance use disorder, according to CDC figures cited by Inova.
Inova plans a free community event October 6
The health system will host "Connection Changes the Brain: Rethinking Addiction and Recovery" from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Inova Center for Personalized Health, 8100 Innovation Park Drive in Fairfax. Attendees will hear from experts on local recovery resources and how greater public understanding can reduce stigma.
Marquitta Duvernay, senior director of Ambulatory CATS and Recovery Services at Inova, said accessible resources and a supportive community can make a meaningful difference for people seeking treatment.
The Act on Addiction campaign launched in 2019 as part of a $16 million gift from the Hitt family to the Inova Health Foundation, funding resources for people affected by addiction across Northern Virginia.