Fentanyl involved in 77% of NC overdose deaths, a dramatic rise from 31% in 2016

More than three-quarters of the state’s overdose deaths reported in the first eight months of 2021 involved fentanyl, putting the year on track to surpass the record-high number of fatal fentanyl-involved overdoses in 2020.

Of the 2,350 people who died from drug overdoses between last January and August, 1,806 — or 77% — had fentanyl listed as at least a contributing factor on their death certificate, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The 77% is a dramatic increase from the 31% of fentanyl-involved overdose deaths in 2016. The percentage has increased every year since, up to 53% in 2017, 56% in 2018, 61% in 2019 and 73% in 2020.

A total of 3,304 people died from overdoses in 2020, which was a 40% increase from the previous year.

“It’s just going to get worse,” said Michael Easley Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “We are doing all we can to educate the public about this.”

Easley Jr., who was sworn into his position in November, said the opioid epidemic and its ties to violent crime are among his chief concerns.

Investigators with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force are working to track down drug dealers selling and shipping pills laced with fentanyl on the dark web, described as hidden websites where dealers post drug product for sale anonymously.

The counterfeit pills containing fentanyl are often sold as popular medications, including Percocet, Xanax and Adderall.

In January, a federal judge sentenced Dylan Holcomb, 26, to 20 years in prison after investigators found 1,500 counterfeit pills, a high-capacity pill press and cryptocurrency wallets in his home in Beaufort County.

“They think what they do can not be seen. I can assure you that it can be seen and it is being watched,” said Easley Jr., who said he expects more dark web cases to be handled in federal court where there is no parole.

“Those who think they are safe dealing drugs and pedaling poison on the dark web are up for a rude awakening.”

Just two milligrams of fentanyl — a trace amount — is considered a lethal dose, according to the DEA.

Brandon Courtright, a graduate of South Granville High School in Creedmoor, died last January from fentanyl toxicity.

He was just 24 years old.

Courtright’s mother, Karen Schnaufer, said her son was prescribed Xanax by his doctor but he often turned to drug dealers for additional medication throughout his eight-year battle with depression and anxiety.

“He said, ‘I just want to feel better.’ He was actually at the point where he was wanting to go and see somebody to get help,” said Schnaufer.

Schnaufer hopes her family’s tragedy will show other parents the importance of getting help for mental health struggles before it’s too late.

“I really would like people to be more aware of getting treatment, not feeling bad about that and not making people feel ashamed of having these illnesses,” she said.

People’s Recovery Initiative for Solutions & More (PRISM) (https://prismteam.org) is a new resource for those struggling with addiction and their families.

Marilyn Shannon, a Raleigh-based life coach, launched PRISM to give those affected by the opioid epidemic a place to turn with workshops, literature and monthly meetings.

“We all have to be on red alert. Not just one person. Everybody,” Shannon said. “Some people don’t know how to handle things. This may be the one thing they grab and people are in pain. Don’t judge. Let’s come together and help each other.”