Our Mission

he United States is not the first country to be plagued by heroin and overdose deaths. Western Europe experienced spikes in opioid overdose deaths in the 1980s and 90s. But countries such as France and Switzerland have found ways to support drug users and rein in the problem.
North Carolina Health News has dedicated hundreds of reporting hours to the opioid crisis and its socio-economic side effects in our state. Late last year, we traveled to Europe to see what others have done to address these issues before us.

The 7th Annual Capital Area Rally for Recovery will be held Saturday, 9/21/19 10AM—2PM at Mordecai Historical Park. The Capital Area Rally for Recovery is an annual event to celebrate recovery and offer hope to anyone seeking or in need of recovery from Substance Use Disorder. We welcome everyone in the community to join us in our efforts to recognize and promote the wellness recovery brings. This event is being held to raise the profile of recovery by demonstrating to our friends and neighbors, communities, policy makers and the media that we can and do recover from substance use disorder and that when we get well, it benefits our families, communities and nation.

RALEIGH, N.C. — In 2017, nearly 2,000 people died from opioid addiction in North Carolina. That same year, providers in our state wrote 72 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people in our state, well above the national average. The state adopted the STOP Act to help track and hopefully slow down the opioid epidemic. Now, there’s a new player in the fight against a human health crisis - animal doctors. Starting June 3, veterinarians across the state will be required to submit opioid prescription information to the Controlled Substance Abuse Reporting System if they dispense certain types of drugs to a pet owner for the animal.