The Opioid Crisis in North Carolina | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

NC Has Experienced 73% Spike in Opioid-Related Deaths Since 2005

    RALEIGH: New data released today shows the sobering local impact of the opioid crisis on North Carolina families. In 2015, there were more than 1,100 opioid-related deaths, a 73 percent increase from 2005.

    In his budget proposal, Common Ground Solutions for North Carolina, Governor Cooper proposed providing $12 million in statewide mental health single stream funds to help combat the opioid crisis and an additional $2 million to enhance local law enforcement's efforts to fight the crisis. The Senate Republican budget, however, provides just $1.9 million per year to curb the opioid crisis and actually cuts single stream funding used for crisis mental health and substance abuse treatment by $100 million.


    "Opioid addiction is devastating families across the nation," said Governor Cooper. "This is a uniquely challenging crisis for our communities and will require a new level of collaboration between law enforcement, treatment-providers, and those in recovery. I am committed to combatting opioid abuse in North Carolina, and I urge the General Assembly to make a similar investment to help those who are suffering from this disease."

    Governor Cooper recently joined leaders across the country in a bipartisan commission to combat the opioid crisis. Led by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Gov. Cooper will work with the commission to support better access to mental health treatment and criminal justice reforms, which can help people suffering from addiction to truly recover.

    Here's a look at how each county is impacted by the opioid crisis:

• Contact: Ford Porter
•     govpress@nc.gov