CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As the fentanyl crisis continues to devastate communities across the nation, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized the importance of unity and awareness in combating the epidemic. His comments come at a time when drug overdoses, particularly those involving fentanyl, are claiming the lives of thousands of Americans each year. 

Governor Youngkin highlighted the personal toll the crisis has taken on his own life, mentioning the loss of a close family friend’s son to a fentanyl overdose. He spoke passionately about the need for increased awareness and education to prevent such tragedies from occurring. “One pill can kill… we are working to beat fentanyl together,” he stated, highlighting the importance of collective action in tackling this deadly issue.

The Governor praised the efforts of his wife, Suzanne Youngkin, for her tireless work in raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, especially among parents and students. “Suzanne has truly been on a mission to make sure that every parent, every student understands the scourge of fentanyl and what it can do to steal a future and to ruin families,” Youngkin said. 

Governor Youngkin also highlighted the work of local organizations like The Bridge Ministry, which has been dedicated to combating substance abuse for over 30 years. He called for continued support of programs that have proven effective, saying, “Part of our efforts… have been focused on finding things that work and doing more of them.” 

Listen to the full conversation here: