Substance Awareness

If you suspect that you or someone with you is experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately! In North Carolina, if you call 911 in response to you or someone with you experiencing an overdose, you will no longer be prosecuted or have your probation/parole violated for possession of small amounts of drugs, paraphernalia, or underage drinking. 

The North Carolina General Assembly has passed laws to minimize the risk of deaths and other serious health issues associated with substance abuse. The Hyde County Health Department has implemented these programs to reduce the potential harm to citizens battling with substance abuse.

The goal of substance abuse treatment is to stop use and allow people to lead active lives in the family, workplace, and community. One continual challenge, however, is keeping patients in treatment long enough for them to achieve this goal. 

That is why finding the right treatment for a person’s specific needs is critical. Substance abuse treatment is not “one size fits all.” Treatment outcomes depend on a number of factors.

• the extent and nature of the person’s problems

• a true desire to be in treatment

• the availability of additional services

• the quality of interaction between the person and his or her treatment providers.

• a strong support system

Family and friends can play important roles in motivating people with drug problems to enter and remain in treatment. However, trying to identify the right treatment programs for a loved one can be a difficult process. Use the resources below as a starting point to help locate the appropriate treatment option for you or your loved ones.

Trillium Health Services is a local governmental agency that manages mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services in eastern North Carolina. They are responsible for managing state and federally funded services for people who receive Medicaid, are uninsured or cannot afford services. They have a 24/7 access to care line, 1 877-685-2415, and in an emergency can dispatch a specially trained Mobile Crisis Team to your location.

SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. They have a 24/7 free and confidential treatment referral service helpline, 1-800-662-4357. You can also use their online treatment locator tools to find a treatment center or buprenorphine (Suboxone) doctors in your area.

The Hyde County Substance Awareness Task Force is currently working on a more comprehensive list of treatment centers and medically assisted treatment providers available within driving distance of our area. Being in a rural area such as ours, it is even more difficult to find the resources needed to help those with substance abuse problems. However, the Hyde County Health Department was recently awarded a grant that will allow us to hire a licensed substance abuse counselor. We have plans to start offering substance abuse counseling and mental health services in October 2018.  We also plan to start offering medication-assisted therapy as soon as the winter of 2018/2019.

Services Offered

• Treatment Navigation

  • The HCHD helps people find the services they need navigating the various options regarding substance use disorder, such as detox, out patient treatment, in patient treatment, and recovery.

• Peer Support

  • Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, the HCHD helps people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. 

• Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP)

  • This program offers a wellness and recovery approach to help people decrease and prevent troubling feelings and behavior, increase personal development, improve quality of life, and achieve ones life goals and dreams. 

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

• Post-Overdose Support

  •  Overdose follow up program which visits someone who has recently overdosed for example within 24 to 72 hours as a follow up visit in order to direct people to treatment services for those seeking to stop their substance use. Discussion of overdose prevention training and overdose materials such as narcan are distributed.  

• Naloxone Distribution

• Education

• Syringe Services

• Hepatitis C Treatment

Resources

• Addictions.com offers people a single source of relatable, reliable information for any stage of the recovery journey, including resources/treatment, warning signs, talking to a family member, and definitions on different types of treatment.  

• Narcotics.com which helps people find local Narcotics Anonymous meetings and provides resources for various types of treatment including inpatient, outpatient, and support groups.

• Rehabs.org provides info for people at any stage of their recovery journey, including info on different types of therapy/recovery options, warning signs, how to talk to a family member, definitions of different types of treatment, and a local treatment center directory.  

Contact Information

To get connected to any of the services listed above, please don't hesitate to reach out to:

Anna Schafer, Human Services Planner and Evaluator II

(252) 926-4381

aschafer@hydecountync.gov 

Mike Wheeler, Certified Peer Support Specialist, WRAP Facilitator, Post Overdose Coordinator

(252) 422-2936

mwheeler@hydecountync.gov