Press Releases

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services officials joined other state and local officials today to dedicate the new Broughton Hospital, one of the state's three  acute care psychiatric hospitals.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is investigating recent reports of severe lung disease after vaping. Three patients have been hospitalized in North Carolina since late July and similar cases have been reported from other states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, California and Minnesota. No deaths have been reported.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging the public to stay out of the Chowan River near Indian Creek because of an algal bloom producing the highest levels of toxin recorded this year.
As teachers, parents and students are preparing for the start of the 2019–2020 school year, public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are reminding North Carolinians to ensure their children, especially teens and preteens, are current on their vaccinations.

Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed Friday as Americans with Disabilities Day in North Carolina, honoring the more than 1.3 million North Carolinians who have a disability and reminding all that the

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging the public to stay out of the Chowan River near Arrowhead Beach because of an algal bloom producing a toxin called microcystin. 

Today, Governor Roy Cooper signed the House Bill 325, the Opioid Epidemic Response Act, to help increase access to medication assisted treatment and expand harm reduction measures to reduce opioid overdose deaths across the state.

Open enrollment for Medicaid managed care begins today in 27 counties. From July 15 through Sept. 13, 2019, more than 300,000 households with nearly 540,000 people in Medicaid can choose a health plan to provide their Medicaid services, along with a primary care provider.

Six rural North Carolina communities will share $1.2 million in federal grant funds to strengthen and expand their response to opioid use disorder with increased planning; prevention; evidence-based treatment, including medication-assisted treatment; and recovery service delivery.

Funding is available to help North Carolinians in crisis pay utility bills or secure fuel or cooling resources. 

Because many Fourth of July celebrations include grilling, picnics and other outdoor food events, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is promoting easy steps everyone should take to avoid foodborne illnesses associated with summer heat.

Today, at the opening of the 2019 Opioid Summit, Governor Roy Cooper highlighted the state’s progress in addressing the opioid epidemic over the last two years and launched the updated Opioid Action Plan 2.0 to continue to combat this issue in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Social Services is holding a town hall meeting Wednesday, June 5 in Hickory to receive public comment on improving child welfare in the state.

Heading to a beach, lake, river or pool this holiday weekend? Officials at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services caution swimmers to take steps to ensure water safety, including keeping a close watch on children and young adults and avoiding rip currents at the coast.

With sweltering temperatures forecast over much of North Carolina for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are urging people to take steps to protect themselves from heat-related illnesses. 

To help those struggling with substance use disorders and enhance public health prevention efforts, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is focusing efforts to reach patients at risk for hepatitis A in the state-operated Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Centers.

To boost North Carolina’s response to the opioid crisis, R.J. Blackley Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center in Butner recently became certified as an opioid treatment program for people with opioid use disorder. 

With multiple measles outbreaks occurring in the United States, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging preventive measures and reminding everyone that vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against measles.

“The cost of doing nothing is not nothing,” John Owen, mental health consumer, told Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D, at a roundtable to discuss the impact of untreated behavioral health on communities and the challenges of accessing care for those who need it.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeking job applicants to work at the new Broughton Hospital in Morganton, following final acceptance of the new state psychiatric hospital by the State Construction Office.