opioid epidemic /tags/opioid-epidemic opioid epidemic en-US Copyright Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:06:35 GMT NC drug overdose deaths appear to be dropping. Why? /news/2024-11-13/drug-overdose-deaths-north-carolina-decline As drug experts parse the data trying to understand the factors that could contribute to a sudden drop in overdose deaths, harm reductionists in western N.C. work to stave off a possible spike in overdoses after the destruction brought by Hurricane Helene. Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:06:35 GMT /news/2024-11-13/drug-overdose-deaths-north-carolina-decline Taylor Knopf/NC Health News N.C. House wants to spend opioid money on multiple abstinence-based recovery centers, while experts stress access to medication /health/2024-07-10/opioid-money-north-carolina-house-abstinence-based-recovery-centers Although budget negotiations stalled, the conversation about how to spend this opioid money is far from over. Wed, 10 Jul 2024 18:01:47 GMT /health/2024-07-10/opioid-money-north-carolina-house-abstinence-based-recovery-centers Grace Vitaglione | North Carolina Health News NC House considers ban on 'gas station heroin' /politics/2024-02-13/nc-house-considers-ban-on-gas-station-heroin North Carolina lawmakers are considering restrictions on a new opioid drug sold in convenience stores. Tue, 13 Feb 2024 22:24:37 GMT /politics/2024-02-13/nc-house-considers-ban-on-gas-station-heroin Colin Campbell WakeMed will take on hospital-level mental care at Wakebrook /health/2023-10-24/wakemed-wakebrook-raleigh-mental-health-substance-disorder WakeMed Health and Hospitals will provide hospital-level mental health and substance use disorder treatments at WakeBrook, the mental health hospital in Raleigh. Tue, 24 Oct 2023 19:31:49 GMT /health/2023-10-24/wakemed-wakebrook-raleigh-mental-health-substance-disorder Jason deBruyn ‘We need to stay open minded’: Embracing new and old treatments to combat the opioid epidemic /health/2023-10-09/fentanyl-opioid-crisis-overdose-narcan-naloxone-robeson-lumberton As the fight against the opioid epidemic continues, new medicines promise to help. But experts say old remedies shouldn't be forgotten. Mon, 09 Oct 2023 16:11:52 GMT /health/2023-10-09/fentanyl-opioid-crisis-overdose-narcan-naloxone-robeson-lumberton Jason deBruyn With $1.5 billion from settlements, North Carolina counties tasked with reversing opioid epidemic /health/2023-06-27/opioid-settlements-billions-north-carolina-counties-reversing-epidemic Counties are starting to get their first payments from the more than $50 billion dollar windfall secured from drug manufacturers and pharmacies for their role in the opioid epidemic. A public radio collaborative investigated what programs are being funded. Tue, 27 Jun 2023 12:23:57 GMT /health/2023-06-27/opioid-settlements-billions-north-carolina-counties-reversing-epidemic Jason deBruyn Bill looks to make it easier to call for help when there's an overdose /health/2023-04-11/bill-looks-to-make-it-easier-to-call-for-help-when-theres-an-overdose Only the person who has overdosed and the person who calls for help are shielded from most prosecutions for substance possession. Sometimes even those people find themselves in legal jeopardy. A new bill would provide protection for everyone at a scene from arrest and from prosecution for nonviolent offenses. Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:34:44 GMT /health/2023-04-11/bill-looks-to-make-it-easier-to-call-for-help-when-theres-an-overdose Rose Hoban, North Carolina Health News More North Carolinians died of opioid overdoses in 2022 than ever before. Advocates call for broader harm reduction strategies. /health/2023-02-03/more-north-carolinians-died-of-opioid-overdoses-in-2022-than-ever-before-advocates-call-for-broader-harm-reduction-strategies North Carolina saw record highs in opioid overdose hospitalizations and deaths in 2022. Fri, 03 Feb 2023 20:47:04 GMT /health/2023-02-03/more-north-carolinians-died-of-opioid-overdoses-in-2022-than-ever-before-advocates-call-for-broader-harm-reduction-strategies Jason deBruyn North Carolina aims to get $89 million from Walmart in opioid settlement /news/2022-11-15/north-carolina-89-million-walmart-opioid-settlement The deal would still need to be approved by 43 states to take effect. It follows a similar announcement from pharmacy chains CVS Health and Walgreen Co. They each said they would pay about $5 billion over time to settle suits they face. Tue, 15 Nov 2022 17:50:36 GMT /news/2022-11-15/north-carolina-89-million-walmart-opioid-settlement Associated Press, Bradley George For the first time, victims of the opioid crisis formally confront the Sackler family /news/2022-03-10/for-the-first-time-victims-of-the-opioid-crisis-formally-confront-the-sackler-family The Sacklers, who own Purdue Pharma, maker of Oxycontin, have maintained they did nothing wrong. People who lost loved ones and years of their lives to opioid addiction believe otherwise. Thu, 10 Mar 2022 19:46:12 GMT /news/2022-03-10/for-the-first-time-victims-of-the-opioid-crisis-formally-confront-the-sackler-family Brian Mann