North Carolina’s Hidden Epidemic – Why Rural Communities Are at Risk

Written By Grayson Johnson

The opioid crisis doesn’t only affect big cities.
In fact, rural counties in North Carolina have some of the highest overdose death rates in the state.

Why?

  • Fewer treatment and recovery centers

  • Longer emergency response times

  • Lack of education or awareness in schools

  • Higher rates of prescription drug use due to labor-based jobs

In Johnston County alone, there were over 50 overdose deaths last year, many involving fentanyl. And those are just the ones we know about.

What needs to change:

  • More accessible recovery resources

  • Honest education in schools

  • Support for families, not judgment

Small towns deserve just as much support as big ones. That’s what The HOPE Project is here to fight for.

Grayson Johnson
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