Behavioral Health Providers

Partners LME/MCO

Daymark

Center for Emotional Health

NAMI

Thompson

Atrium Union

Behavioral Health Collaborative

Outpatient Therapists

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Faith-Based Community

Langford Chapel

New Testament Baptist Food Pantry

Prospect Methodist Church

Thomas Rogers Ministries

Waxhaw Baptist Church

New Central Communitario

Healthcare Providers

Community Care of North Carolina

Community Health Clinic (free clinic)

HealthQuest

Matthews Free Medical Clinic

Atrium Union

Novant Health

Union County Health Department Clinics

Law Enforcement

Sheriff’s Office

Monroe Police Department

Stallings Police Department

Waxhaw Police Department

Non-profit organizations

Common Heart

Community Shelter of Union County

Heart for Monroe

Loaves and Fishes

Operation Reach Out

Turning Point

Substance Use Disorder Providers

MAT Providers

Dr. Adam Salisu, MD

Broadview Health

Chad Daniel Howard, MD

Daymark Recovery

McLeod

New Beginnings

Naloxone Distributors

Prevention

Center for Prevention

Recovery Providers

Bridge to Recovery

Ground 40

House of Pearls

Safe Communities

Support Communities

Cameron’s House of Hope

Shine House

NA, AA, Alanon, Alateen, NarAnon

Treatment Providers (Clinical)

Daymark (Detox, SAIOP)

New Beginnings (Outpatient)

Schools and Universities

Wingate University

South Piedmont Community College (SPCC)

Union County Public Schools

Union Academy (Charter School)

Union County Government

Human Services Agency -Department of Social Services, Health, Transportation, Veterans Services, Community Support and Outreach

Union County Communications Department

Union County Library

Board Of County Commissioners

Municipal County Leaders

Parks and Recreation

Existing Coalitions and Community Committees

Opioid Task Settlement Taskforce

Student Health Advisory Committee

Safe Kids

Opt Out Task Force

Substance Use Disorder 

Evidence-based addiction treatment - Evidence-based addiction treatment consistent with the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s national practice guidelines for the treatment of opioid use disorder – including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) with any medication approved for this purpose by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – through Opioid Treatment Programs, qualified providers of Office-Based Opioid Treatment, Federally Qualified Health Centers, treatment offered in conjunction with justice system programs, or other community-based programs offering evidence based addiction treatment. 

Recovery support services - Evidence-based recovery support services, including peer support specialists or care navigators based in local health departments, social service offices, detention facilities, community-based organizations, or other settings that support people in treatment or recovery, or people who use drugs, in accessing addiction treatment, recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, or other services or supports they need to improve their health or well-being.

Recovery housing support - Programs offering recovery housing support to people in treatment or recovery, or people who use drugs, such as assistance with rent, move-in deposits, or utilities; or fund recovery housing programs that provide housing to individuals receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for opioid use disorder.

Employment-related services- Programs offering employment support services to people in treatment or recovery, or people who use drugs, such as job training, job skills, job placement, interview coaching, resume review, professional attire, relevant courses at community colleges or vocational schools, transportation services or transportation vouchers to facilitate any of these activities, or similar services or supports.

Early intervention - Programs, services, or training to encourage early identification and intervention for children or adolescents who may be struggling with problematic use of drugs or mental health conditions, including Youth Mental Health First Aid, peer-based programs, or similar approaches.  Training programs may target parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health or human services professionals, or others in contact with children or adolescents.

Naloxone distribution - Programs or organizations that distribute naloxone to persons at risk of overdose or their social networks, such as Syringe Service Programs, post-overdose response teams, programs that provide naloxone to persons upon release from jail or prison, emergency medical service providers or hospital emergency departments that provide naloxone to persons at risk of overdose, or community-based organizations that provide services to people who use drugs.  Programs or organizations involved in community distribution of naloxone may, in addition, provide naloxone to first responders.

Post-overdose response team - Post-overdose response teams that connect persons who have experienced non-fatal drug overdoses to addiction treatment, recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, or other services or supports they need to improve their health or well-being.

Syringe Service Program- Syringe Service Programs operated by any governmental or nongovernmental organization authorized by section 90-113.27 of the North Carolina General Statutes that provide syringes, naloxone, or other harm reduction supplies; that dispose of used syringes; that connect clients to prevention, treatment, recovery support, behavioral healthcare, primary healthcare, or other services or supports they need; or that provide any of these services or supports.  

Criminal justice diversion programs- Pre-arrest or post-arrest diversion programs, or pre-trial service programs, that connect individuals involved or at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system to addiction treatment, recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, prevention, or other services or supports they need, or that provide any of these services or supports.

Addiction treatment for incarcerated persons- Evidence-based addiction treatment, including Medication-Assisted Treatment with at least one FDA-approved opioid agonist, to persons who are incarcerated in jail or prison. 12. Reentry Programs.  Support programs that connect incarcerated persons to addiction treatment, recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, or other services or supports they need upon release from jail or prison, or that provide any of these services or supports.

Tobacco

• Prevent the initiation of smoking and other tobacco use.
• Eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Help tobacco-users quit.
• Advance health equity by identifying and eliminating commercial tobacco product-related inequities and disparities among N.C. populations and communities.

Vaping Reduction/Cessation

Media Campaigns- Community-level interventions focus on the entire population within a country, state, county, or city. These interventions attempt to influence youth behavior by changing social norms and attitudes, economic conditions, and environmental factors that may impact vaping behaviors.

Evidenced-Based School Curriculum and Alternatives to Suspension

Policies

National, state, and local program activities have been shown to reduce and prevent youth tobacco product use when implemented together. These activities include:

• Pricing policies that can determine minimum prices and tax rates for products.
• Zoning/licensing laws that limit the number and locations of retailers able to sell products.
• Minimum legal purchasing age that can be set, and enforced, by state governments to restrict access to products by young adults.
• Clean air laws that can be enacted to restrict vaping in public places, parks, college campuses, workplaces, and more.
• Bans on advertising for vaping that can include on television, newspapers, online, on billboards, in sports stadiums, and more.
• Laws on packaging for vaping-related products, including supporting graphic warning labels or banning youth-oriented imaging.
• Point of sale laws, including limiting where vaping products can be sold within a store and what advertisements can be displayed within a store.
• Banning flavors used when vaping, including menthol, dessert, and fruit flavors.
• Increased compliance checks to ensure establishments are not selling vaping devices to individuals under the age of 21.

Substance Use Disorder is defined as meeting criteria for illicit drug or alcohol dependence or abuse. Illicit Drug Use includes the misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics or the use of marijuana, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or methamphetamine. Misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics is defined as use in any way not directed by a doctor, including use without a prescription of one's own; use in greater amounts, more often, or longer than told; or use in any other way not directed by a doctor. Prescription psychotherapeutics do not include over-the-counter drugs. The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. SAMHSA’s 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that approximately 20.3 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year.

Illicit Drug Use includes the misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics or the use of marijuana, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or methamphetamine. Misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics is defined as use in any way not directed by a doctor, including use without a prescription of one's own; use in greater amounts, more often, or longer than told; or use in any other way not directed by a doctor. Prescription psychotherapeutics do not include over-the-counter drugs.

Deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visits due to medication or drug overdose, have become a growing public health concern nationally and in North Carolina. In June 2017, North Carolina developed its first Opioid Action Plan 2.0 with input from community partners to combat the crisis. Historically, prescription opioids were a major driver of this epidemic, however, illicit drugs are now contributing to this problem in increasing numbers. The majority of overdose deaths now involve illicit opioids like heroin or fentanyl, a synthetic narcotic. The number of overdose deaths involving stimulants is also on the rise. The Opioid Substance Use Action Plan (OSUAP) 3.0 was updated in May 2021. The plan focuses on four priority areas to address the epidemic: prevent, reduce harm, connect to care, and centers equity and lived experience.

In July 2021, Attorney General Josh Stein announced a historic $26 billion agreement to bring desperately needed resources to communities harmed by the opioid epidemic. The agreement resolved litigation over the role McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson played in creating and fueling the opioid epidemic. The agreement also requires significant industry changes that will help prevent this type of crisis from ever happening again. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between state and local government directors how opioid funds are distributed and used in North Carolina.

On 8/10/22, Union County launched its Opioid Settlement Work Group. Union County willreceive $9,445,807 (from 2022-38) via the Memorandum of Agreement. The goals of the work group were to represent the community by providing expertise and perspectives into the opioid epidemic, identify a mix of short-term and longer-term approaches for addressing the opioid situation in Union County through most effective use of funds, and present information and guidance that the Board could utilize when determining approaches to use of settlement funds. The group met five times between August and
and came up with the following Vision and Mission Statements (which align with the state Opioid Action Plan Goals): 

Vision: To promote a healthier quality of life for the Union County community by preventing harm and death caused by opioid misuse.

Mission: To efficiently and effectively utilize the NC Opioid Settlement funds to prevent Opioid uase, reduce harm due to opioid and related substance abuse, and connect affective individuals to the care and support needs; We will collaborate to develop plans, take action, review progress, and refind initiatives to make a positive change in Union County. 

Goals: Prevent opioid use, Reduce harm due to opioid and related substance abuse, Connect affected individuals to care and support needed. 

Strategies: Increase naloxone access, expand treatment and recovery resources, increase economic support for individuals via expanded transportation options and low/no cost treatment options, expand peer support and care coordination, create a drug treatment court, develop/implement a community engagement and SUD related professional development strategy, foster more organized/intentional collaboration among stakeholders with inclusion of law enforcement and first responders.

Tobacco

Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of death and disease in North Carolina and the United States. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis (CDC, nd). In 2018, nearly 14 of every 100 U.S. adults aged 18 years or older (13.7%) smoked cigarettes. According to the Robert Wood Johnson 2022 County Health Rankings in North Carolina, 18% of Union County resident’s smoke. While cigarette smoking has declined among North Carolina’s young people, there has been an increase in e-cigarette smoking, particularly among middle and high schoolers. This has become an epidemic.