Opiod crisis Coverage

Robeson County group mulls over how to spend $15M toward opioid crisis

Social workers, providers and people who have lived with substance use disorder all gathered to discuss the grasp the opioid crisis has on Robeson County and methods for addressing it.

With 27 initiatives funded and functional, Robeson sees overdoses halved in two years

For several years, Robeson County consistently ranked in the top 10 counties in the state for opioid overdoses. Until recently.

Ali Ingersoll, WRAL Investigative Data Journalist

More doctors can prescribe a leading addiction treatment. Why aren't more people getting help?

It's easier than ever for doctors to prescribe a key medicine for opioid addiction since the U.S. government lifted an obstacle last year. But despite the looser restrictions and the ongoing overdose crisis, a new study finds little change in the number of people taking the medication.

By CARLA K. JOHNSON, AP Medical Writer

Facing the truth: Triangle woman's project illustrates scope of opioid crisis in North Carolina

Data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shows more than 4,300 North Carolinians died from overdoses in 2022.

Thousands learned to save lives, prevent overdose during Dreamville concert

The Dreamville Festival in North Carolina partnered with the nonprofit This Must Be The Place to provide training to 1,700 attendees on how to respond to fentanyl overdoses.

Wayne County has millions to reduce opioid abuse, deaths

Wayne County is set to receive more than $11 million to address the opioid crisis over the next 18 years. County leaders have yet to take any formal actions to authorize the spending.

Wake County allocates $7.5M in funding to address opioid crisis

The Wake County Board of Commissions on Monday approved $7.5 million to support strategies to address the ongoing opioid overdose crisis.

Wake County developing plan to spend $65 million in opioid settlement funds

More than 100 people came together Friday as Wake County leaders gathered input on how to use money to address the opioid crisis.

Fentanyl deaths, need for addiction resources continue to grow

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, there were 2,838 known fentanyl deaths from January-October 2023. It was a 1% increase from the year before, which saw 2,797 deaths during the same time frame.

Recovery professionals push for more addiction resources nationwide

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, there were 2,838 known fentanyl deaths from January-October 2023. It was a 1% increase from the year before, which saw 2,797 deaths during the same time frame.

Grace Hayba, WRAL health reporter

NC State student raising money to provide free Narcan to students

An NC State student is raising funds to help fight overdoses on campus. Sophomore Alyssa Price said she lost two friends to overdoses, so she wanted to do something to help save others.

NC State sophomore raises money to provide free Narcan to students

Sophomore Alyssa Price said she lost two friends to overdoses, and now she's raising funds to provide free Narcan to students.

WRAL staff

Calls grow for overdose death prevention medicine to be available in more schools

Should Narcan be more accessible in schools? That's a question the mayor of Apex is raising, on the heels of a House Select Committee he's been invited to speak at. WRAL's Lora Lavigne shares the latest push to save lives.

Chapel Hill company working to develop vaccine to prevent fentanyl overdoses

After more than 4,000 people in North Carolina died last year from fentanyl, a Chapel Hill company has a plan to cut down on deadly overdoses.

Shelle Jackson, WRAL reporter

Rally held outside State Capitol to expand death by distribution law

Currently, two bills are in rules committees that would expand who can be punished under North Carolina's death-by-distribution law.

'There are no words for that': Victims of fentanyl poisonings push for broader jurisdiction of fentanyl laws

Activists rallied outside the State Capitol to push for tougher laws on people who distribute fentanyl.

Carly Haynes, WRAL reporter

'They are dealing death': WRAL Investigates goes undercover to get firsthand look at fentanyl crisis in NC

It's a killer the size of grain of sand or the tip of a pen. Illegal fentanyl is running rampant through North Carolina, and the consequences are terrifying.

Chelsea Donovan, WRAL reporter

Franklin County's special operations unit finds opioid overdoses up in 2023

Preliminary data showed opioid overdose emergency department visits were up in June 2023 compared to the previous year in Franklin County.

Non-profits push for a detox and recovery center in Johnston County

Two nonprofits want to provide a detox and recovery center; resource organizers say the county lacks and desperately needs it.

Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

Raleigh man describes recovering from fentanyl addiction

Fentanyl continues to be a huge problem in North Carolina. More than 3,000 people died from using the drug in 2021.

Cristin Severance, WRAL investigative reporter/ documentary producer

Crisis Next Door : Spreading the word to prevent Fentanyl-related overdose deaths

Fentanyl continues to be a huge problem in North Carolina. More than 3-thousand people died from using the drug in 2021.

Editorial: With criminal crackdown, funding community treatment for addiction impacts even more crucial

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 -- Getting tough criminal laws grabs get-tough headlines and photo opportunities with uniformed law enforcement leaders. But legislators must not neglect the larger part of the problem - cutting the demand and getting those who are hooked on opioids the opportunity for treatment and recovery.

WRAL Documentary: Crisis Next Door explores illicit fentanyl's impact on families

WRAL shows how fentanyl has destroyed the lives of thousands of North Carolinians across the state, what the state is doing to fight this epidemic and what more is needed to save lives.

New laws, new enforcement and family stories work to reduce OD deaths in NC

WRAL shows how fentanyl has destroyed the lives of thousands of North Carolinians across the state, what the state is doing to fight this epidemic and what more is needed to save lives.

Cristin Severance, WRAL investigative reporter/ documentary producer

Opiod addiction treatment facility gets go-ahead in Robeson County

A former nursing home located at 1165 W. Parkton Tobemory Road in Parkton, north of Lumberton, will be transformed into an 82-bed drug rehabilitation facility.