Elected leaders and other stakeholders from Montgomery County, Md. were in Arlington last week to tour examples of “missing middle” housing.
The tour did not include any construction projects started under Arlington’s Expanded Housing Options, which a judge overturned last month, putting the completion of such projects in doubt. Instead, it focused on the look, feel and impact of two other examples of housing densification in South Arlington.
An Ohio man has been arrested and charged with raping a woman in a Rosslyn area apartment last year.
The crime happened in the early morning hours of Oct. 29, 2023, after police say an “unknown male suspect gained entry to the victim’s residence, entered her bedroom… then raped the victim before fleeing the residence on foot.”
Medically reviewed by Dr. Carl Williams, PhD, LCADC
For families in Arlington and nearby Northern Virginia communities, the search for addiction treatment often begins with a practical question: What kind of help is actually appropriate?
The answer isn’t always obvious. A person may be working full time, caring for children or maintaining a household while substance use becomes increasingly difficult to control. Another person may need a more structured level of care because of medical, psychological or safety concerns.
Recent local data show progress in reducing opioid overdose deaths, but they also show why access to treatment remains important.
Arlington County recorded 29 opioid overdoses in 2025, including three fatal overdoses. That was a substantial decline from 53 total opioid overdoses and 10 fatal overdoses in 2024, according to Arlington County’s opioid incident data.
The numbers represent meaningful progress. Arlington’s Addiction Recovery Initiative, or AARI, continues to coordinate prevention, treatment access, harm reduction and overdose-response efforts across the county. Arlington also provides a substance-use resource line to help people connect with treatment, support groups and other services.
The broader Northern Virginia picture shows a similar direction. In the Fairfax Health District, there were 56 opioid overdose fatalities in 2025, down 22% from 72 in 2024 and 52% from the record high of 117 in 2023. Fairfax County reported the figures in June 2026.
Fairfax-specific figures shouldn’t be read as Arlington statistics. They do, however, provide useful regional context for families in Arlington, Falls Church and neighboring communities who may be comparing treatment options across Northern Virginia.
Several factors can influence overdose trends, including wider access to naloxone, treatment services, medications for opioid use disorder, public education and changes in the illicit drug supply. Local prevention and response systems can also make it easier for people to receive help after an overdose or other substance-related crisis.
But overdose statistics capture only one part of substance use. A person doesn’t have to experience an overdose to have a substance use disorder, and someone can struggle for years without entering formal treatment.
Fairfax County’s treatment numbers illustrate the continuing need. More than 2,105 people with opioid use disorder received assessment and treatment services through the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board in fiscal year 2025.
For families trying to decide whether treatment is necessary, the question is therefore broader than whether an overdose has occurred.
Substance use can be difficult to recognize when a person continues meeting visible responsibilities.
A professional may continue showing up for work while drinking or using drugs in private. A parent may continue managing school schedules and household responsibilities while relying increasingly on substances to cope with stress. Someone can appear successful to friends and colleagues while privately experiencing cravings, loss of control or repeated attempts to cut back.
More county staff will be deployed on weekends to keep the nightlife scene in Clarendon lively for patrons while more proactively addressing concerns of those who live nearby.
Upcoming efforts likely will include having code-enforcement and fire-marshal personnel on hand to immediately respond to issues that arise, officials say.
Pumpkin spice season is here, but winter is closer than you think.
When winter weather arrives, some of our most vulnerable neighbors can’t clear snow from their sidewalks and driveways, limiting their ability to travel safely and access essential services.
An ongoing lack of rain — three weeks and counting — combined with westerly winds will present a fire danger on Thursday.
Forecasters say the brush fires could spread quickly given the expected conditions tomorrow. Residents are being asked to carefully dispose of flammable items like cigarette butts and matches — and even to keep cars off of dry grass.
Event location
Bluemont Park
601 N Manchester St
Arlington, Virginia 22205
Join Comunidad for its Annual 5Dollar5K—a fun, family-friendly race that brings neighbors together in support of local children, teens, and families in Falls Church and Arlington. Run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, and bring the little ones for a special Kids’ Dash! Registration is just $5, and children ages 12 and under participate for free. Comunidad is a community development organization based in the Seven Corners area of Falls Church. We hope you'll join us and together help us build comunidad!
The last weekend to enjoy fresh pizza and drinks from a new restaurant on the Potomac River is coming up.
Catboat Pizza Bar’s last planned day of service is this Saturday, co-owner Max Zuckerman told ARLnow. The seasonal waterfront pizzeria first opened on Memorial Day weekend at 1 Marina Drive in Alexandria, with spacious, all-outdoor seating and views from the Washington Sailing Marina.
Arlington and Falls Church have once again ranked as some of the most livable communities in the nation.
The ratings in the new AARP Livability Index, both good and bad, largely track with the findings of an ongoing Arlington County study into what residents value.
An arrest has been made in connection to the after-hours theft of more than 25 cellphones from a store in the Lee-Harrison Shopping Center.
A 25-year-old suspect was apprehended yesterday (Tuesday) as police executed a search warrant, police said. It happened at a house on N. Florida Street, in the Yorktown neighborhood, less than half a mile from the electronics store he is accused of burglarizing earlier this month, a witness told ARLnow.
A man allegedly exposed himself in the women’s locker room at the Washington-Liberty High School pool Monday night.
The incident happened around 6:45 p.m. but was not reported until two hours later. The pool is open to the public during that time, outside of school hours.
A Hawaiian-themed coffee shop with an eye-catching name is aiming for a November opening in Virginia Square.
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is preparing to open in the former Dunkin’ Donuts space at 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, with final inspections scheduled in coming weeks, franchise owners Richard and Michelle Lee told ARLnow. The husband-wife duo also owns a Bad Ass Coffee in Alexandria.
We’re almost there! In addition to our regular Saturday shows,
ArtRave’s 19th Annual Christmas Extravaganza is taking place on the first three Saturdays in December. With thousands of shoppers expected, we typically expand our space to accommodate more artisans. We’re already about 50% filled!
