Department of Health and Human Services ~ Division of Public Health Press Release • June 1, 2022 • R. Oakes, Healthy Carolinians Coordinator
(Wentworth, NC) – An Opioid Community Survey is being conducted by the Rockingham County Opioid Task Force and the Rockingham County Department of Health and Human (DHHS) to learn more about what communities across Rockingham County are doing to address opioid and heroin use and overdose deaths. In 2021, 272 overdoses were reported in Rockingham County with the average age of overdose patients being 47 years of age.
Community input is imperative as preparation for new initiatives begin development to combat this epidemic. The twelve evidence-based strategies selected by North Carolina to combat the opioid epidemic are being examined, and further community input is needed to determine which strategies Rockingham County citizens would like to see being performed to address the opioid crisis. The strategies are as follows:
1. Collaborative strategic planning
2. Evidence-based addiction treatment
3. Recovery support services
4. Recovery housing support
5. Employment-related services
6. Early intervention
7. Naloxone distribution
8. Post-overdose response team
9. Harm reduction programs
10. Criminal justice diversion programs
11. Addiction treatment for incarcerated persons
12. Reentry programs
Survey participation is entirely voluntary and anonymous and takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Your answers will help guide the strategic planning process and identify strategies to resolve the Rockingham County opioid epidemic. The survey can be found at rockinghamcounty.dhhs.org. In addition, focus groups will also be held within various municipalities across the county. Please be on the lookout for additional information regarding the previously mentioned focus groups on our website and social media pages if you would like to participate.
A flyer with a QR code will be distributed throughout the county. Citizens can use their phone camera to scan the QR code which will direct them to the Community Opioid Survey.
Survey link: https://forms.gle/naZsxZCh2HwVecCbA
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