Opioids

GASTON COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING AN OPIOID CRISIS

In 2020, on average 9 people in North Carolina died every day of a drug overdose.

Gaston County is fighting the opioid epidemic with the help of the Gaston Controlled Substances Coalition. Recognizing our county’s opioid epidemic cannot be solved by any single organization, the Coalition provides a hub where agencies and residents work together to develop and deliver solutions to opioid use disorder.  Learn more.

About Opioids

ABOUT OPIOIDS

Prescribed opioids are mainly used to help people feel less pain after surgery or accidents. The path to addiction often begins when people take these medications as prescribed. For others, the “high” and “calm” opioids provide help them deal with painful emotional and traumatic experiences from their childhoods.

Understanding Addition

UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION

Opioid use disorder is a chronic brain disease that changes behavior. Addiction is when your mind and body tell you to take opioids, even if you don’t have a medical reason to take them and despite knowing the possible harmful consequences.

Seeking Help

SEEKING HELP

Recovery is possible and looks different for each individual. Whether you are seeking help for yourself or a loved one, we can connect you to local and national resources.

HOW DO I FIND HELP?

Take steps to care for yourself and help protect others in your home and community. Learn more below.

I want to get rid of unused medication

I want support group information

I want treatment

I want medication-assisted treatment

I want Naloxone (Narcan)

I want to learn about Harm Reduction

I want to get involved in helping others

I want to share my story

Tell me about opioid stigma

WHO IS IMPACTED MOST?

  • 136 people die every day in the United States from opioid-related drug overdoses
  • More people die from opioid overdoes than car crashes
  • Fatal overdoses are up 53% in Gaston County in 2021 compared to 2020
  • 1.6 million people had an opioid use disorder in the past year
  • 10.1 million people misused prescription opioids in the past year

*2019 Nation Survey on Drug Use and Health 2020
Find more data on NC overdose deaths