Data was obtained from the Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan Data Dashboard. In 2021, for every drug overdose death, there were four Emergency Department (ED) visits due to overdose in North Carolina. These ED visits are limited to unintentional and undetermined intent cases only and overdose codes of drugs and medicaments with dependency potential. 

A substance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic condition similar to other chronic conditions requiring ongoing care and treatment for health and recovery. As with any underlying public health concern, need to invest in identification, prevention, treatment, recovery services, and family support to ensure healthy outcomes and lessen the overall negative effect on community health. In Richmond County, as in North Carolina as a whole, deaths due to medication/drug overdoses have been steadily increasing since 1999, and the vast majority (90%) of these are unintentional. In 2019, an average of 6 people a day died from medication/drug poisoning in North Carolina (all intents). The number of medication/drug deaths has increased 120% over the last ten years (NC DHHS, 2010-2019 and continues to rise.  Despite a dip from 2017 to 2018, overdose deaths rose in 2019, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in the prevalence of synthetic narcotics like fentanyl or fentanyl-analogs.  

• Richmond County Department of Social Services DEFT | Richmond County, NC - Official Website (richmondnc.com)

The Richmond County Drug Endangered Family Taskforce (DEFT) was formed to address the opioid crisis in our local neighborhoods. Community stakeholders, county government, and local agencies have joined forces to provide treatment resources and community education. We are committed to bringing awareness and prevention to Richmond County and its residents by working with local providers to reduce the supply of prescription opioids, increase community awareness and prevention, supply naloxone to family, friends, and other interested parties who may work, live or know those who may use opioids.  

• Richmond County Peer Support Program Recovery Solutions | Richmond County, NC - Official Website (richmondnc.com)

The Richmond County DSS Peer Support Program is the boots on the ground, out in our community to bring awareness of addiction. We give out Harm Reduction Kits, which contain Narcan (used to reverse an opioid overdose), information on “the signs of an overdose,” and resources on where substance-affected individuals can go to find help and support. Our Peer Support Specialists are in recovery themselves and work with others who are still struggling. They are living proof that people DO recover, which goes a long way in reducing the stigma surrounding drug addiction.

• Hamlet City Police Police Department (hamletnc.us) 

Our agency, through investigations both self-initiated and community-driven, locates and finds both those using opioids and illegally selling opioids. In addition, we reach out to those who have addictions and try to provide resources to aid in recovery. We believe that both aiding in recovery as well as stopping the illegal supply of opioids is the best way we, as officers, can help the community.

• Rockingham City Police Rockingham Police Department Rockingham NC (gorockinghampd.com)

The Mission of the Rockingham Police Department is to enforce the laws and ordinances of the State of North Carolina and the City of Rockingham. By providing quality law enforcement, we safeguard lives, enhance community safety, protect property and reduce the impact and fear of crime. In addition, our officers seek and preserve public confidence by the impartial observance of the law and by offering service and trust to all members of the public.

• FirstHealth Emergency Medical Services Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (firsthealth.org)

FirstHealth EMS is a nonprofit service that provides transport for 911 patients in Chatham, Montgomery, and Richmond counties. With 40 ambulances and 200 employees, the FirstHealth Regional EMS System is one of the largest ambulance systems in North Carolina, covering more than 3,000 square miles. Each county is unique but provides a high level of Advanced Life Support (ALS) care to all our patients. Together with our Medical Transport Team, FirstHealth EMS transports approximately 23,000 patients each year to various destinations around the state.

• Richmond County Sherriff’s Department Richmond County Sheriff, NC | Official Website

Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our county by reducing fear, preventing crime, and enforcing the law while protecting each individual’s freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

• Reduce the supply of prescription and illicit opioids
• Avert future opioid addiction by supporting youth and families 
• Increase the distribution of Naloxone
• Improve access to drug treatment programs including medication-assisted treatment
• 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 disorders

DEFT (Drug Endangered Family Taskforce) DEFT | Richmond County, NC - Official Website (richmondnc.com) was formed by a collaboration of community stakeholders, county government, and local agencies that have joined forces to provide treatment resources and community education. This collaboration has dedicated resources to bring awareness and prevention to Richmond County by educating local providers to reduce the supply of prescribed opioids, increase the supply of naloxone to the community at large, and work with the Healthy Communities Public Health Educator to provide opioid awareness media campaigns. DEFT also developed a public webpage to offer local resources (treatment, peer support), data, and awareness.