The opioid epidemic is hurting people, families and communities all over the country. In North Carolina, opioid overdose deaths have doubled in the past ten years. From 2000-2020 more than 28,000 people in North Carolina died from drug overdoses. From 2020-2021, 185 people died from overdoses in Durham. The Durham Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to 481 opioid overdoses in 2020 and over 850 opioid overdoses in 2021. Overdose numbers increased in 2020 most likely due to the stress and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opioids include many types of prescription pain relievers, heroin and fentanyl. If you take any of these drugs, you are at risk for overdose, substance use disorder and/or addiction. Other types of drugs can also cause substance use disorder, including alcohol. The good news is that there are some simple ways to reduce your risk of dying from an overdose. There are also treatments for substance use disorder and addiction that work. The Durham County Department of Public Health offers programs and services to help people ready to address opioid use, substance use disorders, and addiction.

Community Linkages to Care (CLC) Peer Support Program 

Peer Support Specialists are people who have lived experience with substance use or mental illness. They are trained to help others connect to services. CLC Peer Support Specialists provide the following services, free of charge:

• Take home naloxone kits to reverse an overdose

  To reach a Peer Support Specialist, call 919-695-3246 or 919-560-7305. Ask to speak with Durham Outpatient Peer Navigators.

   
• Links to treatment and care, whenever you are ready
• Links to harm reduction, housing, food, and job resources
• Help in developing coping skills and avoiding triggers
• Help in developing a network of support
• Help in preparing for and participating in recovery plan meetings

CLC Peer Support Specialists are based at the Durham Recovery Response Center. They also team up with the Durham EMS community paramedics to form the Durham Post-Overdose Response Team (PORT). The PORT aims to visit and provide support to every individual who experiences an overdose in Durham. The CLC Data Highlights Fact Sheet showcases some of the CLC program's most important impacts and successes. 

Syringe & Naloxone Services  

Through the Safe Syringe Program (SSP), Durham residents may visit the Department of Public Health pharmacy or mobile-site locations throughout the community to receive the following services, free of charge:

• Sterile (unused) syringes and the option to safely dispose of used needles
• Take home naloxone kits to reverse an overdose
• Testing strips to detect fentanyl and xylazine in drugs
• HIV and Hepatitis C testing
• Mental health and substance use services

The SSP is designed to reduce overdose deaths and the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in our community. All services are delivered confidentially. To learn more about this program or other pharmacy services, call 919-560-7632. The pharmacy is located at the Durham County Human Services building at 414 East Main Street, Durham NC 27701, 1st floor, Lobby 3. In addition, vending machines that dispense free naloxone kits have been placed in the lobbies of the Human Services building and the Durham County Detention Facility at 219 S Mangum St, Durham, NC 27701.

Substance Use Disorder Resources

The Durham County Department of Public Health has produced several guides and fact sheets with information on resources available to Durham residents struggling with substance use.

• Durham County Resources for Individuals Who Use Substances (Spanish -Español) – Lists local treatment providers, harm reduction services, recovery and support groups, housing options, tips for safer drug use, and more. To fill out an evaluation of this guide and give feedback, click here.
• Durham County Housing Options for People with Substance Use Disorder- Includes detailed information on Durham agencies that provide housing for individuals with substance use disorder. The guide is designed for social workers and case managers.
• Fact Sheets - Fentanyl Fact Card, Fentanyl Fact Card (Spanish -  Español). Naloxone Guide, Housing and Medication for People with Opioid Use Disorder.

Medication Take Back Services

The source of misused opioid medications is often the home medicine cabinets of family and friends. Durham County Department of Public Health partners with Alliance Health, Insight Human Services, Together for Resilient Youth (TRY), and the Durham Sheriff’s Office to participate in National Take Back Day twice annually. At these events, you can safely dispose of any unwanted, unused, or expired medications. There are also permanent drop boxes in several Durham locations where you can dispose of medications at any time.

To find upcoming medication take back events or the location of permanent drop boxes, go to Operation Medicine Drop . For more information, call (919) 560-7765 or email drosser@dconc.gov.

Community Testing Program

People who inject drugs may be at greater risk for HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). The Community Testing program provides sexual health services and testing anywhere in Durham County. Services include:

• Free and confidential HIV/STI screenings
• One-on-one or group sexual health education classes or workshops
• Free condoms
• Free and confidential Safe Syringe Kits and/or Naloxone (Narcan)
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) referrals as needed.

For information about our services or if you would like to schedule a free screening, call 919-560-7844 or text 919-698-1303.

FIT Program

The Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program aims to connect all formerly incarcerated individuals who have a chronic disease with healthcare and a comprehensive reentry plan. A Community Health Worker (CHW) works directly with formerly incarcerated individuals after they are released from the Durham County Detention Center. The goal is to achieve successful reentry and specifically to facilitate connections with primary medical care and, if needed, behavioral health and substance use treatment. The CHW takes individuals to medical appointments and helps assure they have proper follow-up.

FIT is a partnership between Lincoln Community Health Center, Durham Criminal Justice resource center, Durham County Department of Public Health and NC Department of Public Safety. For more information, call 919-672-8929 or email dclayton@dconc.gov.

The Durham Joins Together to Save Lives (DJT) Task Force

The Durham County Department of Public Health is a member of the DJT Task Force. The DJT Task Force includes community organizations, health care providers and government agencies. These groups have joined together for the purpose of addressing the opioid epidemic in Durham. Other task force members include Alliance Health, Together for Resilient Youth (TRY), the Durham Recovery Response Center (DRRC), Duke Health, Durham Criminal Justice Resource Center, Durham County Detention Center, the Durham County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), TROSA, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition and more. The task force plans and carries out activities through four committees: Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Prevention and Education, Data, and Policy. The DJT Task Force is led by Durham County Commissioner Wendy Jacobs and Dr. Wanda Boone, CEO of Together for Resilient Youth. For more information, click on the link above or read the minutes from past meetings of the DJT Task Force and its committees. 

Trainings and Webinars

The Durham County Department of Public Health sponsors training opportunities on substance use disorder for public health staff, healthcare providers, and community members. These trainings educate individuals about the benefits of treatment, harm reduction, peer support, and trauma-informed care. The main goal is to reduce the stigma of substance use disorder in the community by spreading the message that it is a treatable clinical diagnosis rather than a moral failing. 

Helpful Links

NCDHHS Opioid Information
More Powerful NC
North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition
Together for Resilient Youth (TRY)