Goldsboro families seeking answers after 4 found dead, raising concerns over laced drugs
Families and police in Goldsboro are looking for answers after four people have been found dead in four days – just miles apart.
A preliminary investigation reveals the deaths could be connected to drug use, and raising concerns of drugs laced with fentanyl.
The Goldsboro Police Department put out a Facebook post that overdose deaths related to tainted drugs were on the rise in the city.
"In recent days, our community has seen a rise in overdoses and deaths related to tainted drugs," the Facebook post said. "Substances like heroin and methamphetamine are being laced with potent and dangerous additives, such as fentanyl, putting users at a higher risk of overdose and death."
Addiction experts say these deaths could inform how they help other addicts in the future – and that it could serve as a tragic and scary wake-up call.
"You can't make people want to come into a program. That's the biggest challenge. You have to come to the end of yourself to want the help," says Lavelle Payne, who has been in recovery from addiction for 20 years. Now, she helps other women along that same path.
When Payne heard about a fourth death investigation potentially linked to drug use, she said it felt personal.
"I thank God because it could’ve been me," she said.
Goldsboro Police say they are looking into the possibility that fentanyl contributed to the four deaths. So far, no connection has been confirmed.
Despite millions in funding for opioid recovery, not enough resources to fight addiction
Payne says there aren't enough resources in Wayne County to fight addiction.
She was shocked to learn the county will have received more than $2.5 million through the opioid settlement funding by the end of April.
"There are organizations like myself that are busting their tail to have fundraisers and things of that nature that aren't receiving that help, they wouldn’t have to do that. It’s a lot for a nonprofit to go out and do what you’re doing to bring those finances in," she said.
Wayne County is set to receive more than $11 million to address the crisis over the next 18 years.
The county is accepting applications through May 10 from programs like Payne's to distribute those funds, but has yet to authorize the any spending. A county spokesperson told WRAL News that an opoid working group would be looking to fund groups that work inrecovery support services, early intervention, re-entry programs, criminal justice diversion programs and addiction treatment for incarcerated persons.
Payne connected with the Alves family, who just lost 34-year-old Shawnell Alves – one of the four people who died this week. She was a mother to six children.
“It is very disheartening to hear money that you’ve got money sitting over there and you have people, whether it’s my organization or organizations that are here, that are not receiving that money," she said.
Payne says she would like to see funding go toward more detox centers or housing for people battling addiction.
