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Department of Health and Human Services ~ Division of Public Health News Release • May 31, 2023
(Rockingham County, NC) – The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented stressors that exacerbated the mental and behavioral health crisis in North Carolina and across the country. Research shows that coordinated systems of care for people with behavioral health issues or substance use disorders are effective at improving outcomes.
Opioids are a class of drugs used to reduce pain. Opioids include some prescription pain medications, synthetic fentanyl and heroin. All opioids have a similar effect on the brain, they reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect the brain areas controlling emotion and breathing. Prescription medications have been a major driver of the opioid epidemic, but illicit drugs (heroin and synthetic fentanyl) are also increasingly contributing to this problem.
The Rockingham County Department of Health and Human Services (RCDHHS) is targeting the opioid epidemic here in Rockingham County. RCDHHS is happy to announce Rebecca Oakes as the new Local Public Health Administrator for Rockingham County. As the new Local Public Health Administrator, Rebecca will serve as the project coordinator for the Rockingham County Opioid Settlement Prevention Program. This position also has the responsibility of facilitating the implementation of the Rockingham County Opioid Task Force strategies leading to a reduction in opioid-related injury and death.
Rebecca was the former Healthy Carolinians Coordinator within the Health Education section of RCDHHS. Having been with the department for three years, she’s no stranger to Rockingham County. She brings with her firsthand experience having had implemented focus groups throughout the community in 2022 to glean information from the public surrounding opioids and their impact on the local community. “I’m thrilled to continue my work here in Rockingham County and to continue to serve the citizens that reside here. The opioid epidemic is vast, impacting individuals from all walks of life. After speaking extensively with our county citizens, I’m excited to take their thoughts and ideas and put them into action to mitigate the impact opioids have had on our local communities.”
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