Author: Amy Dominello Braun
April 11, 2019 – More Powerful NC, a public education campaign to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic and empower North Carolinians to take action to address the epidemic in their homes and communities, launched in early April.
A coalition of North Carolina businesses, healthcare organizations and state agencies helped create, fund and provide resources for the campaign, which was initiated by NC Attorney General Josh Stein and NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, MD. Five North Carolinians die each day from overdosing on opioids – which includes prescription pain medication, heroin and fentanyl – and the campaign aims to prevent that.
“Opioid addiction has had a devastating impact on our state, and we continue to urgently address this crisis,” said Secretary Cohen. “We’ve made progress, but there is still much work to be done to educate people about the dangers of opioids, prevent addiction, and expand access to treatment.”
More Powerful NC’s website provides people with facts about the epidemic, information about addiction treatment and recovery, and suggestions for ways to get involved. Specifically, the website includes toolkits for parents, educators, coaches, local government officials, and others to help people take action in their own communities.
The effort includes TV, radio, digital and billboard advertisements and will run throughout the state until the end of November. The ads encourage people to safely dispose of unneeded prescription medication and to talk to their doctors about alternatives to opioids for treating pain.
Visit the More Powerful NC website to pledge to take action, download community toolkits and learn how to safely dispose of unneeded medications.