"The opioid epidemic has been called the worst drug crisis in American history with more than 170 people estimated to die from overdoses every day in the United States. According to STAT, opioids could kill nearly 650,000 people across America in the next decade. The race to solve the unrelenting opioid crisis is a top priority in communities small and large."
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County Opioid Abuse Resources
The purpose of the County Leadership Forum on Opioid Abuse is to engage local elected leaders in an informed discussion about the opioid epidemic, and develop collaborative strategies that enhance prevention, education, and treatment.
County Leadership Forums Scheduled

*Please email communications@ncacc.org when your forum is scheduled and to submit your follow-up report.
Goals:
- to elevate the awareness of all local elected officials so they have a common understanding of the opioid epidemic in their county;
- to discuss its causes, its effects on citizens, and its implications for the county’s future;
- to educate local elected leaders about successful prevention and treatment programs and provider resources available in their county;
- to generate coordinated education, prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the occurrence of opioid addiction, overdose, and death.
County Leadership Forums Scheduled
County | Date | Location |
---|---|---|
Iredell |
February 25, 2017 |
Langtree Plantation |
Brunswick | February 28, 2017 |
St. James Reserve Club |
Davidson | May 5, 2017 | Davidson County Community College |
Hyde | July 13, 2017 | Hyde County Government Center (Teleconference: Ocracoke Community Center) |
Alleghany |
August 16, 2017 | Commissioners Meeting Room |
Randolph | August 18, 2017 | AVS Banquet Centre (live stream) |
Warren | August 21, 2017 | Armory Civic Center |
Pender | August 29, 2017 | Burgaw Train Depot |
Stanly |
August 29, 2017 | Badin Inn |
Rowan | August 30, 2017 | Rowan County EOC / Cooperative Extension |
Mitchell | August 31, 2017 | Mitchell County Courthouse |
Cabarrus |
September 7, 2017 | Kannapolis City Hall |
Bladen | September 12, 2017 | Bladen Community College |
Person | September 13, 2017 | Kirby Cultural Arts Complex |
Pasquotank, Camden, Perquimans, Bertie, Chowan, Currituck |
September 14, 2017 | K.E. White Center at Elizabeth City State University |
Harnett | September 20, 2017 | Harnett County Commons Area |
Beaufort | September 21, 2017 | Beaufort County Community College |
Craven | September 22, 2017 | TBA |
Rockingham (audio recording of meeting) | September 29, 2017 | TBA |
Wilkes | September 29, 2017 | Wilkes County Agricultural Center |
Halifax | October 11, 2017 | Ervin V. Griffin Sr. Centre |
Granville, Vance | October 17, 2017 | Vance Granville Community College Civic Center |
Rutherford | October 17, 2017 | Isothermal Community College - The Foundation Performing Arts Center |
Polk | October 24, 2017 | Sunnydale Cabin |
Martin, Tyrrell, Washington | October 26, 2017 | Senator Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center |
Johnston | November 3, 2017 | Johnston County Agricultural Center |
Columbus | November 8, 2017 | Southeastern Community College Auditorium |
Macon | November 28, 2017 | Robert C. Carpenter Community Building |
Gates |
November 29, 2017 | Gates County Library |
Chatham | December 4, 2017 | Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center |
Pitt | December 5, 2017 | Ag Center Auditorium |
Alamance | December 8, 2017 | Lamb’s Chapel – Airport Campus |
Swain | February 6, 2018 | Swain County Administration Building |
Durham | February 27, 2018 | Durham County Human Services Building |
Henderson | March 28, 2018 | Technology Center at Blue Ridge Community College |
Lee | April 5, 2018 | Lee County Cooperative Extension Office |
Jackson |
April 23, 2018 |
Jackson County Department on Aging Center |
Vance |
May 9, 2018 |
Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments |
Surry |
June 8, 2018 |
Surry Community College Viticulture Center |
Edgecombe |
August 22, 2018 |
Edgecombe County Auditorium (Agenda) |
Gaston |
TBD |
TBD |
*Please email communications@ncacc.org when your forum is scheduled and to submit your follow-up report.
Target Participants
- County Commissioners
- Municipal Council members from every municipality within the county
- School Board members and superintendents from every LEA within the county
- County Sheriff
- Chief District Court Judge for the county’s judicial district
Examples of other community leaders you might want to include
- Representative of the county medical society or the local physicians’ community, as well as pharmacists and physical therapists (consult with Board of Health or Medical Society as needed to identify a participant);
- District Attorney or designee;
- Chief Executive Officer of your local hospital;
- President of the Community College;
- Municipal Police Chiefs and First Responders
Materials for County Leadership Forum
- Individual County Information
- Project Description (PDF)
- Forum Planning Guide (PDF)
- Sample Letter of Invitation from the Board of County Commissioners Chair (Word Document Download)
- Forum Sample Agenda (Word)
- Facilitator Guide and Overview (PDF)
- Idea Generation Worksheet (Word)
- Name Tag Template (PDF)
- Follow-up Report Template (Word)
- NC Injury and Violence Prevention Branch Overview on Prescription and Drug Overdoses (PDF)
- Facts and Figures on the Opioid Crisis (PDF)
- Summary of Additional Resources (PDF)
- "A Prescription for Action: Local Leadership in Ending the Opioid Crisis," a joint report from the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties (PDF)
- Take Home Press Release (Word)
- NC Department of Justice Online Resource Guide
County Forum Follow-up Reports and Action Plans
- Davidson County Follow-Up Report
- Wilson County Initiatives to Address Opioids & Heroin
- Warren County Follow-Up Report
- Pender County Summary Report
- Cabarrus County Follow-Up Report
- Rockingham County Follow-Up Report
- Halifax County Follow-Up Report
- Martin, Tyrrell, Washington Counties Forum Follow-Up Report
- Columbus County Follow-Up Report
- Rutherford County Follow-Up Report
- Macon County Follow-Up Report
- Gates County Follow-Up Report
- Chatham County Summary Results
- Iredell County Follow-Up Report
- Jackson County Summary Report
- Alamance County Follow-Up Report
- Edgecombe County Follow-Up Report
County Leadership Forums in the News
- Opioid Forum is Pilot for Statewide Program - The Dispatch (Davidson County)
- Spectrum News - Raleigh (Forum Kick-off)
- CountyQuarterly Article on NCDHHS Secretary Cohen
- CountyQuarterly Article on NC Attorney General Josh Stein
- County Forum Addresses Opioid Crisis - The Courier-Tribune (Randolph County)
- County’s Opioid Forum Hears the Gruesome Statistics - Bladen Journal (Bladen County)
- Looking at Opioid Abuse - The Daily Herald (Halifax County)
- Columbus County to Hold Opioid Forum - WECT (Columbus County)
- Dozens Meet at Alamance County Opioid Workshop - Times-News (Alamance County)