SWAN QUARTER — Hyde County is taking a leadership role when it comes to fighting the opioid epidemic.

“It’s become evident to officials in Hyde County there is an opioid epidemic not just in our community, our county, but across the state and across the country,” said Kris Cahoon Noble, assistant county manager. “We want to let the community know what we’re doing, but even more importantly … we want feedback from them.”

Drug overdose deaths in North Carolina increased by more then 14 percent between 2014 and 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Hyde County saw 27 drug overdoses from March to December 2016, although this number only accounts for those who were brought to the emergency room, according to more recent data from the N.C. Disease Event Tracking and Epidemiologic Collection Tool.

“It is somewhat difficult to gauge just how widespread the opioid addiction epidemic truly is in Hyde County. Because there is a stigma associated with addiction, self-reported misuse and abuse of opioids is an unreliable measure,” said Anna Schafer Motteler, public health educator at Hyde County Health Department.

“Educating the public is an essential component to combating the opioid epidemic. There are many common misconceptions about the use and abuse of opioids, and it is crucial to foster public awareness of the issue itself in order to eliminate those misconceptions,” Motteler said.

That’s where Hyde County’s latest campaign comes into play.

Hyde’s Board of Commissioners, county manager’s office, emergency services, Department of Social Services, health department, Cooperative Extension and the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office have stepped up to collaborate on a taskforce that seeks to educate the public about this epidemic.

Starting yesterday, the taskforce is hosting a slew of public forums over the next month to share information about the epidemic, resources for those addicted to opioids and ways for the public to combat the epidemic.

“We just basically want to educate the public and try to get them to assist us, to keep their eyes and ears open,” Capt. Josh Hopkins, with the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office, said. “We’re just basically trying to be able to see how we can curb these epidemics.”

Hopkins said if the taskforce can save a life or convince a person to change his ways, then it will be a success.

He said officers are equipped with Narcan, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, and are trained on what to do in this situation.

“A lot of the times we are on the scene before EMS can get there,” Hopkins said.

Noble said the health department has begun distributing Narcan kits, and all parties involved in the taskforce hope to close the gap between an addict and the resources available to help. Motteler added that the health department’s primary care clinic also stays mindful of the pain medications it prescribes and how often.

“Our hopes are to be able to give our citizens the resources that they need to deal with addiction,” Noble said. “It’s really just a real grassroots effort.”

“Opioid misuse is a community issue, and by increasing the public’s understanding of the root causes of opioid abuse and what they can do to prevent it, they are better equipped to play a role in combatting the epidemic,” Motteler said.

Upcoming community forums include:

• Sept. 25: 6 p.m., Hyde County Government Center, 30 Oyster Creek Road, Swan Quarter
• Oct. 5: 6 p.m., Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department, 6880 U.S. Highway 94, Fairfield
• Oct. 10: 6 p.m., Ponzer Community Building, 39111 U.S. Highway 264, Belhaven
• Oct. 19: 6 p.m., Ocracoke Community Center, 999 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke

 

For more information, contact Kris Noble at 252-926-4180, or Anna Motteler at 252-926-4381.