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In 2023, there were more than 4,000 suspected overdose deaths in North Carolina. (Adobe Stock)

NC project tackles opioid crisis with unified support network

In Robeson County, the opioid crisis is exposing the need for increased addiction support. The Southeastern Prevention and Addiction Recovery …

En 2023, hubo m�s de 4000 muertes sospechosas de sobredosis en Carolina del Norte. (Adobe Stock)

Proyecto de NC aborda crisis de opioides con una red de apoyo unificada

En el condado de Robeson, la crisis de opioides está exponiendo la necesidad de un mayor apoyo a las adicciones. El Southeastern Prevention and …

The Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act directs the DEA to register certain practitioners to prescribe methadone that is dispensed through a pharmacy for an individual's unsupervised use. (Adobe Stock)

As overdose deaths rise, NC advocates urge easier methadone access

Some North Carolina groups advocating for harm reduction among people struggling with drug addiction are calling for broader access to methadone…

North Carolina officials reported nearly 77% of overdose deaths in 2021 likely involved fentanyl. (Adobe Stock) <br />

NC district attorneys focus on fentanyl crisis progress, needs

President Joe Biden is urging stricter penalties for drug smugglers to combat the fentanyl crisis nationwide. Meanwhile, North Carolina District …

Among 12- to 17-year-olds nationwide, 2.08 million or 8.33% report using drugs in the last month. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina fights back against youth overdose epidemic

In the wake of the devastating overdose epidemic in North Carolina, the state's Department of Health and Human Services is stepping up to aid …

Between 1999 and 2019, more than 800,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States. (Milovan Zrnic/Adobe Stock)

NC Families, Advocates Demand Expansion of Good Samaritan Laws

As North Carolina faces an increasing number of overdose-related deaths, there are new calls urging the state to update and expand its Good Samaritan …

Fentanyl continues to drive most of North Carolina's overdose deaths, according to recently released data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (Adobe Stock)

2021 North Carolina Overdose Deaths Highest on Record

More than 4,000 people in North Carolina died of overdoses in 2021, the highest number of overdose deaths in a single year on record in the state…

Carolina del Norte puede recibir alrededor de $750 millones a trav�s de acuerdos de opioides, si todos los condados y municipios del estado con poblaciones de m�s de 10,000 personas acuerdan participar. (Adobe Stock)

Condados de CN planean el mejor uso del dinero de los opiáceos

El condado de McDowell está programado para recibir aproximadamente 200 mil dólares al año durante los próximos 18 años de un…

North Carolina stands to receive about $750 million through opioid settlements, if all the state's counties and municipalities with populations of more than 10,000 agree to participate. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Counties Plan for Best Use of Opioid Money

McDowell County is slated to receive roughly $200,000 a year over the next 18 years from a massive national opioid settlement. Community leaders say …

Drug overdose deaths topped more than 100,000 in 2021, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

2021 Saw Record Number of NC Overdose Deaths

Advocates and faith groups are calling for more investments in harm reduction across the state, as new provisional data shows overdose deaths have …

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Groups Say Opioid Settlement Money Should Go Toward Community Resources

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Faith leaders and support groups across the state are calling on lawmakers to commit to spending the approximately $750 million …

The smoking rate for individuals with a behavioral health disorder is nearly twice that of the general population, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Center Expands Smoking-Cessation Program for Behavioral-Health Patients

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Smoking is prevalent among people with substance-use disorders, but tobacco-prevention efforts often overlook this population…

In September, the highest rates of emergency-room visits related to drug overdose occurred in North Carolina's most rural counties, including Caldwell, Richmond and Robeson. (Adobe Stock)

Two Epidemics: Rural NC Fights Substance Abuse, COVID-19

MARION, N.C. -- Rural North Carolina is battling two health epidemics - substance abuse and COVID-19 - as treatment centers navigate shutdowns and …

Research indicates that people in recovery from opioid abuse who are on medication-assisted treatment for at least one to two years have the greatest rates of long-term sobriety. (Adobe Stock)

NC Expands Treatment for Opioid-Use Disorder in Jails

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina is spearheading an effort to make medication assisted treatment available to people in jail or prison who are in …

Many North Carolina clergy members say they support harm-reduction programs such as needle exchanges. (Adobe Stock)

NC Clergy Poll: More Than 70% Say Opioid Crisis Has Affected Congregation

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina's clergy are gathering in cities across the state to talk about the opioid crisis. A recent survey found more …

North Carolina is home to four of the 25 worst cities in the U.S. for opioid abuse, according to a 2017 report from Castlight Health. (Marco Verch/Flickr)

Opioid Epidemic Declared Public Health Crisis: Is NC Ground Zero?

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The opioid crisis plaguing states such as North Carolina is officially declared a public health emergency. That announcement …

Just as North Carolina increases efforts to fight opioid abuse, Congress could take steps to reduce funding. (Innocent Coppieters/Flickr)

As NC Fights Opioid Epidemic, Could Congress Dismantle Progress?

RALEIGH, N.C. - Gov. Roy Cooper and his administration recently have initiated large-scale attempts to curb opioid abuse in North Carolina. The …

Injection drug use is believed to be one of the causes of the spread of hepatitis. (Eric Molina/flickr.com)

Hepatitis on Rise: Opioid Use Could Be to Blame

RALEIGH, N.C. – After decades of being on the decline, hepatitis cases are taking a sharp upswing in North Carolina and the rest of the country…

A program organized by the North Carolina Council of Churches offers grants to qualifying churches that offer health and wellness programs to their communities. (Justin/Flickr)

More NC Churches Offer Refuge for Spirit – and Body

RALEIGH, N.C. – Growing numbers of North Carolina churches offer their congregations health and wellness resources, alongside spiritual …

Improving access to community support for children and families of incarcerated parents can help lesson the lifelong impact of jail time on generations, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (disastrous/flickr.com)

A Sentence of Their Own: Impact of Parent Incarceration on NC Children

RALEIGH, N.C. - More than 179,000 children in North Carolina have been separated from a parent because of incarceration. While those parents are …

Heroin addiction and consequent overdoses are on the rise in North Carolina and attributed in part to the reduced availability of black market pain medication. (L./Flickr)

Painkillers Pain NC, Addicts Turn to Heroin

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Thousands of North Carolinians are addicted to prescription painkillers and, as new laws limit their prescription and availability…

North Carolina's Child Health Report Card says the state has work to do when it come to offering parents access to health care. (Yooperann/flickr.com)

Mixed Report: Health of NC's Children

RALEIGH, N.C. - The health of North Carolina's children has the potential to impact the state for generations to come and this year the state is …

Smokers in North Carolina spend an average of $88,000 over their lifetime on their habit, which is less than in many other states. (erdenebayer/morguefile)

Cigarette Smoking in NC: A Million-Dollar Habit?

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The average smoker in North Carolina will spend $88,000 on their habit over a lifetime. That's according to new data from the …

Credit: Experts and the state are asking parents to discourage underage drinking among their children during the holidays and throughout the year. Credit: maldoR/morguefile.com

First-time Alcohol Use Among Youth in the Holidays Increases

RALEIGH, N.C. - December is one of the prime months when youths experiment with alcohol, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health…

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is urging drivers to make plans this Labor Day weekend, if celebrations include alcohol. Credit: dodgertonskillhause/morguefile.com

Too Much To Drink? More Options Than Ever to Avoid Driving

RALEIGH, N.C. – This Labor Day weekend, thousands of North Carolinians will imbibe a favorite alcoholic beverage while enjoying the long …

PHOTO: A new report compiles research about Americans who began receiving Medicaid coverage and benefits as children, and found multiple, long-term benefits in adulthood. Photo credit: Cheryl Holt/Morguefile.

Report: NC Kids with Medicaid Become Healthy, Productive Adults

RALEIGH, N.C. – More than one million North Carolina children benefit from Medicaid coverage, and as the nation's largest public health-…

PHOTO: North Carolina is pulling all branches of government together to find solutions to handling the state's population with mental illness and addiction issues. Photo credit: Penywise/Morguefile.

State of Mind: Mental Health and Addiction Task Force Announced

RALEIGH, N.C. – Mental health advocates are calling the Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force announced by Governor Pat McCrory …

PHOTO: President Obama is expected to discuss his plans for criminal-justice reform at a visit to Oklahoma's El Reno Federal Correctional Institution today. He'll be the first president to visit a prison while in office. Photo credit: Larry Farr/Morguefile.

Obama to Visit Federal Prison Today

RALEIGH, N.C. – President Obama will become the first sitting U.S. president to visit a federal prison today. The move is part of a major push …

PHOTO: Drive safe, buckle up, and put down the phone. The National Safety Council expects this Fourth of July weekend to be one of the most dangerous holiday periods on the nation's highways in several years. Photo credit: Fidler Jan/Morguefile.

A Dangerous Weekend Predicted for North Carolina Road Travel

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Fourth of July is almost upon us, and as some North Carolina families pack their cars for holiday travel, safety experts …

PHOTO: A bill in the North Carolina State Assembly proposes criminalizing women for using drugs while pregnant. Women advocates insist there's a better way to confront the problem. Photo credit: morguefile.com/larryfarr

NC Moms Could Face Jail Time for Drug Addiction

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina women who bear a child born addicted to or harmed by drugs could face criminal prosecution, if a bill proposed in the …

PHOTO: Efforts to prevent children from smoking and helping others to quit in North Carolina are severely underfunded, according to a recent report from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Photo credit: Cheryl Holt/Morguefile.

Report: Tobacco Prevention Efforts Not Up to Par in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. - According to a recent report from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, North Carolina will only spend about $1.2 million of the $422 …

PHOTO: Holiday family gatherings can be fun for some, but for others they can be stressful and unpleasant. Mental health experts say it's okay to pace yourself and even say

Hazards of Holiday: Too Much Turkey - and Family?

RALEIGH, N.C. - While the holidays are a happy time for many, the stress associated with family obligations and dynamics can be a "lump of coal" in …

Photo: Lisa's son, Robert Farmer, serving a mandatory sentence for second-degree murder. Courtesy: Lisa

Efforts Increase to Reduce Mandatory Minimum Sentences

RALEIGH, N.C. - There is renewed interest in North Carolina and nationwide to reduce mandatory minimum sentences. Recently, U.S. Attorney General …

Report Highlights Prison Costs in NC Budget Debate

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina has closed seven prisons over the past year to meet budget cutback orders, and cutting prison spending further is …

Environmental Health Risks: Not Just Cancer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A recent report delivered to President Obama by a special panel appointed by President Bush warned that the risk of cancer from …

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