‘A profound need’: Henrico to begin construction on detox facility to help those battling substance abuse

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- On Tuesday, April 8, Henrico County's Board of Supervisors approved a zoning change to bring a new detox center to the Varina district.

County leaders told 8News that, across the Commonwealth, Henrico faced the fourth-largest impact of the widespread opioid epidemic that's plagued the United States for more than a decade.

"The opioid epidemic drove up our jail population massively," Deputy Henrico County Public Safety Manager Michael Feinmel told 8News. "Fatal overdoses were off the charts."

Leaders first considered building a third jail to help make room -- but Feinmel said they quickly realized incarceration wasn't the best solution, especially for people battling substance abuse.

Instead, the county collaborated with Pyramid Healthcare. Together, the agencies came up with a new plan: recovery.

A rendering of what Henrico County's new detox center could look like. (Photo: Henrico County Government)

"People can come in and stay for a period of time up to about 35 days, if there's profound substance use," Feinmel said.

At Tuesday's Henrico Board of Supervisors meeting, the board approved a zoning change that would allow a plot of agricultural space along Nine Mile Road -- where the county's Glen Echo Elementary School once stood -- to transition into office space and make room for a new detox center.

"Every conversation I had, someone's always said, 'Oh, yeah, we see the need -- this is a profound need, this is a really good thing for our community,'" Feinmel said when asked about conversations with members of the community and nearby neighbors.

This plan means there will be 60 new inpatient beds in Eastern Henrico.

Feinmel explained that Medicaid represents the primary business model, but the facility is not going to turn anyone away. They're focused on long-term impact -- even after a patient's 35 days are technically up.

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"Pyramid [Healthcare] is going to work with them to develop a release plan, so there are those supports in the community," Feinmel said. "So someone's not walking out after 35 days and not having anybody to lean back on, not having help there. So treatment is going to be ongoing."

The county confirmed there will be a groundbreaking for the facility within the next month. The center should be up and running by the summer of 2026.