North Carolina including New Hanover County has experienced a sharp increase in the number of drug overdose deaths, making it one of the leading causes of death.  Largely this has been attributed the opioid epidemic that has impacted the communities and life of residents in North Carolina.  Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic or recurrent conditions that, like other leading causes of deaths require ongoing care and treatment for individuals to regain healthy lifestyles.  As with any other condition, prevention, indentification, treatment and recovery services and supports are essential to ensure postivie health outcomes.  In  2019, the rate of New Hanover County residents who died of a drug poisoning was 36.0 per 100,000 population in comparison to North Carolina's rate at 22.3 per 100,000 population.  In 2020, Healthy North Carolina 2030 committee has set a target goal of 18.0 deaths per 100,000 population.  

Wilmington Police Department Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD): https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/departments/police-department/policing-services/field-services-bureau/lead-program

NC Harm Reduction Coalition: http://www.nchrc.org/

Safe Kids Cape Fear Coalition: https://www.facebook.com/SafeKidsCapeFear

Coastal Horizons: https://www.coastalpreventionresources.org/

Cape Fear Coalition for a Drug Free Community: http://www.capefearcoalition.org/

Wilmington Treatment Center: https://www.wilmingtontreatment.com/

New Hanover Medical Regional Center: https://www.nhrmc.org/about/opioid-task-force

UNC-Wilmington CROSSROADS (High School Drug Prevention Program): https://uncw.edu/healthservices/crossroads.html

Cape Fear Opiate Overdose Quick Response Team: https://www.facebook.com/chcquickresponseteam/

New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force: https://www.nhcbouncesback.org/

New Hanover County Schools: https://www.nhcs.net/

New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office: 

New Hanover County Department of Social Services: https://socialservices.nhcgov.com/

The Harbor: https://rhahealthservices.org/wilmington-behavioral-health-services/

• Reduce the supply of prescription and illicit opioids
• Avert future opioid addiction by supporting youth and families
• Address the needs of justice-involved populations
• Increase distribution of naloxone
• Implement needle exchange programs
• Improve access to drug treatment programs, including medication-assisted treatment
• Implement broader use of NC Controlled Substance Reporting System by health care providers and pharmacies
• Increase training for health care providers on safe prescribing practices
• Adopt and support payment of evidence-based interventions that prevent opioid prescribing
• Support policies that decriminalize and promote treatment of substance use disorder