Fourteen Sampson County residents died from a drug overdose in 2020, a 21% increase from the previous year.  The number of drug overdose deaths involving all types of medication and drugs doubled from 11 in 2019 to 22 in 2021.  There were also 95 emergency department visits related to drug overdoses in 2020, a 17% increase from the previous year.

Based on Sampson County's 2021 Community Health Assessment, drugs (substance abuse) was ranked second by residents as a community issue most affecting the quality of life in Sampson County.  Approximately 54.1%, or 248 community health assessment survey respondents identified drugs/alcohol (substance abuse) as a quality of life issue, and 15.1%, or 69 survey respondents identified substance misuse services/recovery support as an area that needs improvement in our community.  Additionally, from 2016-2019, unintentional poisonings were the third leading cause of injury hospitalization and the second leading cause of injury death in Sampson County.