School officials from Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk are considering opening a regional recovery school for students recovering from substance use disorders. The school could be open next year.
The school would provide students a “safe and supportive” environment to learn while continuing their recovery before reintegrating into a traditional high school. Students at the school would also have access to counseling and other resources.
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, overdose deaths from opioids have increased 500% among 15-to 24-year-olds since 1999. In Virginia, nearly 7% of teenagers report using drugs and 9% report alcohol use…