Wake County, N.C. — Hosted by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC), the 2025 North Carolina Summit on Reducing Overdose, held from March 18-20 at the Raleigh Convention Center, brought together almost 700 local government leaders, subject matter experts, service providers, individuals with lived experience, and community members to address the state’s ongoing opioid overdose epidemic. The Summit provided a critical platform for collaboration, sharing insights and discussing solutions to reduce overdoses across North Carolina.
The event featured keynote speakers Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, PhD, MPH, a drug scientist from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Stephen Murray, MPH, NRP, overdose researcher and Harm Reduction Program Manager at Boston Medical Center. Special guest speakers included First Lady of North Carolina Anna Stein and North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, who discussed the state’s efforts to address the opioid epidemic, while a special legislative panel featuring Senator Gale Adcock, Representative Carla D. Cunningham and Representative Timothy Reeder discussed policy initiatives to address the epidemic. The Summit speakers highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce opioid misuse, including opioid settlement fund distribution, harm reduction policies and expanding access to treatment and recovery services.
“The opioid crisis is not just a public health issue; it’s a local and personal one for many of our communities,” said NCACC President and Warren County Commissioner Tare “T.” Davis. “This Summit is a vital step in ensuring that counties have the tools, knowledge, and resources to effectively respond to this ongoing challenge and save lives.”
Throughout the Summit, attendees participated in specialized tracks covering various aspects of overdose prevention and response, including administrative strategies for opioid settlement funds, prevention and early intervention efforts, harm reduction practices, treatment strategies and long-term recovery support. Participants also engaged in practical workshops on trauma-informed care, drug-related stigma, motivational interviewing and reentry simulation.
Evening programs such as the “Naloxone Saves: Rescue Kit Making & Reception” and “The Monti: Storytelling Event” provided opportunities for networking and personal connection, further strengthening community bonds among those working to overcome the opioid epidemic. With almost 700 attendees participating, the Summit reinforced the importance of ongoing collaboration at all levels of government and community to address North Carolina’s opioid overdose epidemic. For more information about the Summit and the NCACC Opioid Settlements Technical Assistance Team (OSTAT), click here.Â
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Editors: To view photos from the event, click here. Photos should be credited as follows: Photo courtesy of NCACC.