Advocates and faith groups are calling for more investments in harm reduction across the state, as new provisional data shows overdose deaths have increased statewide by 26%.
It is estimated more than 3,900 people lost their lives to drug overdoses last year.
Elizabeth Brewington, associate director for partners in health and wholeness overdose response at the North Carolina Council of Churches, said communities are feeling the impacts of devastating loss.
“These statistics represent a child of God, someone who is someone’s child, loved one, family member,” Brewington noted. “And so, people of faith are concerned about this because these are our communities, these are our neighbors, our family members.”
According to the American Medical Association, the pandemic has led to spikes in overdoses across the country driven by illicit fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. Overdoses related to prescription opioids and heroin remain high and also are increasingly contaminated with illicit fentanyl.
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