Category: Awareness

Overdose deaths surge in Mecklenburg County

From 2019 through 2023, overdose deaths rose fastest among Black and Hispanic residents. County health officials said that in many instances, people died after using street drugs laced with fentanyl.

Read the original article on the QCityMetro website.

Fatal overdoses surged among Black and Hispanic residents in Mecklenburg County from 2019 through 2023, according to county data released on Thursday.

For each of the two groups, the drug-related death rate increased by 200% during that five-year window. For the county’s white population, the rate of fatal overdoses rose 14%.

Mecklenburg Health Director Raynard Washington called the trend “alarming.”

“These numbers are a stark reminder that the opioid epidemic is impacting every group in our community,” he said in a public statement on Thursday.

Why it matters: Despite a slight nationwide decline in recent years, drug overdoses remain the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2023, more than 100,000 people died as a result of drug overdosing in the United States. Mecklenburg County recorded 356 overdose deaths in 2023, the last year for which county data were available.

What’s driving the surge?

In an interview with QCity Metro, Washington blamed the rise in overdose deaths on opioids and fentanyl, a synthetic drug that can be lethal in tiny doses. In many instances, he said, fentanyl is mixed with street drugs such as cocaine and counterfeit pills such as Adderall, Oxycodone and Percocet.

“Our illicit drugs are mostly tainted with substances that could kill you, and it doesn’t take multiple uses,” Washington said. “It takes one use.”

Washington said people share illegal pills, believing they are safe. “It’s best to get those from a pharmacist with a doctor’s prescription and not from a friend, a family member or someone in the community,” he said.

Dr. Thomas Owens, the Mecklenburg County medical examiner, said: “Almost every day we see the devastating burden of fentanyl in our community.”

What do the numbers tell us?

When it comes to race, Mecklenburg County has seen a seismic shift in overdose deaths.

As recently as 2019, white residents made up the bulk of Mecklenburg’s overdose deaths. In recent years, however, Black and Hispanic communities have seen the fastest growth rates for overdose deaths. (The death rate continues to grow for white residents as well.)

In 2019, for example, Black residents in Mecklenburg County died from overdosing at a rate of 14.99 people for every 100,000 Black residents. But just five years later, that number had surged to 44.34 overdose deaths for every 100,000 Black residents.

In his interview with QCity Metro, Washington said men accounted for a disproportionate number of overdose deaths in Mecklenburg County. Preliminary data for January showed that more than 65% of suspected fatal deaths in the county were male. 

Continue reading “Overdose deaths surge in Mecklenburg County”

TOWN HALL MEETING ABOUT FENTANYL

Wilson County & Adjacent NC Counties

TOWN HALL MEETING ABOUT FENTANYL  (open to the public)
Wilson County & Adjacent NC Counties
Saturday, February 1, 2025, 2:00-4:00 pm

DateSaturday, February 1, 2025, 2:00-4:00 pm
LocationFoundation YMCA of Wilson
233 Nash Street
Wilson NC. 27893
Download Press Release PDF
Contacts
  • Barb Walsh, Executive Director, 919-614-3830
    barb@fentvic.org. website:  www.fentvic.org
    Fentanyl Victims Network of NC (fentvic.org), 501(c)(3) EIN 88-3921380 
  • Local Co-Host:  Lisa Bennett, Mother of Mason Bennett, Forever 22. Valued member of fentvc.org. Public safety, education & justice advocate.  229-873-5648  lisawbennett@me.com
Purpose
  1. SAVE LIVES! Public Safety Education Prevention Tools + Naloxone Distribution & Training
  2. Listen-Learn-Interview devastated fentanyl victim families. It could happen to anyone!
  3. Spark public safety conversations about the dangers of illicit fentanyl, particularly counterfeit pressed pills (Adderall, Xanax, Percocet), and access to life-saving naloxone in schools and the community
  4. Connect NC Fentanyl Victim Families to one another for support and advocacy.

Town hall meeting to educate public on dangers of fentanyl

A man holds a poster showing Wilson County residents who have died as a result of fentanyl. Families shared their stories outside the Wilson County Courthouse in September to bring awareness to the dangers of the drug. Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina will hold a town hall meeting in Wilson on Feb. 1 at the Foundation YMCA of Wilson. Drew C. Wilson | Times file photo

Event organizers are sounding the alarm on the fentanyl crisis that continues to claim lives. The Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina will hold a town hall meeting in Wilson from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, at Foundation YMCA of Wilson at 233 Nash St. 

The purpose of the event, organizers say, is to spark public safety conversations about the dangers of illicit fentanyl, particularly when it’s found in counterfeit pressed pills like Adderall, Xanax and Percocet. 

Organizers will also be distributing naloxone, which goes by the brand name Narcan, and train those attending on how to administer the lifesaving antidote. Local families will also share their heart-wrenching stories of how their loved ones have died from fentanyl poisonings. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. 

ADDRESSING THE ISSUE

Barb Walsh, founder of Fentanyl Victims Network, has been working with Wilson families who are reeling from the loss of their own children who have died as a result of unintentional fentanyl deaths. The hope, she said, is to bring awareness to a problem that is plaguing the country, the state and Wilson. 

“This is a public safety problem we want to address,” Walsh said. 

Walsh is holding several town halls throughout the state. 

“I chose Wilson because there is a pocket of very active families,” Walsh said. “We have two death by distribution cases going on (in the court system). 

Local elected officials, public health professionals, advocates, parents of fentanyl victims, first responders and representatives from the Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition and the Wilson County district attorney’s office will be in attendance at the Feb. 1 town hall meeting. Local law enforcement members have also been invited, organizers said. 

“I think it’s important for people to see these numbers and realize how many people are dying,” said Lisa Bennett, co-organizer of the event. Bennett lost her son, 22-year-old Mason Bennett, in February 2023. He died after taking what he believed was a Percocet, a prescription painkiller, but it was laced with fentanyl, she has said. Since her son’s death, Bennett has been working with Walsh and her nonprofit. 

Walsh said 18,457 people in North Carolina have died as a result of fentanyl over a 10-year period. 

From 2013 to October 2023, there have been 138 fentanyl deaths in Wilson County alone, according to state data Walsh has compiled.

SOUNDING THE ALARM 

Walsh founded the Raleigh-based nonprofit after her daughter, Sophia Walsh, died from fentanyl poisoning in August 2021. Walsh’s daughter drank what she thought was a bottled water from someone’s refrigerator. 

Unbeknownst to her, it contained diluted fentanyl. Sophia died, and no one called 911 until 10 hours later, Walsh said. No one was charged. 

“We didn’t know what she died from until five months later,” Walsh said. 

After her daughter’s death, Walsh channeled her grief into research, advocacy and justice for other victims. Walsh has worked across the state to bring awareness to the dangers of fentanyl and has worked with families to demand justice in their cases by utilizing state law and getting those responsible charged. 

‘IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR CHILD’

Walsh said there’s a misconception about fentanyl deaths. She said not all deaths are the result of someone in active addiction. Some people are simply experimenting. 

Seven out of 10 “street” pressed copycat pills contain lethal fentanyl additives, according to officials. 

Fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, is a synthetic opioid that can be lethal even in small doses.

“It could happen to your child,” Walsh said. “The pressed pills are the culprit.” 

Organizers hope to educate families and encourage parents to talk with their children about the dangers that are out there. 

“If we can stop just one family from having to go through this it will be worth it,” Bennett said. 

Bennett said more lives will be saved if more people are armed with Narcan. 

“They cannot save themselves,” Walsh said. “Someone in the community will have to save them.” 

For more information about Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina visit www.fentvic.org. 

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Three people arrested in connection to a fatal overdose in New Hanover County

Read the original article and watch the video on the WECT News 6 website.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – Three people have been arrested in connection to the fatal overdose of an 83-year-old in New Hanover County.

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) says on Dec. 6, 2024, deputies found an 83-year-old woman dead inside her home on Horndale Drive in New Hanover County.

On Jan. 10, deputies arrested 30-year-old Michael Britt, 46-year-old Daniel Reaves, and 45-year-old Melissa Norris-Cribb in connection to the overdose.

Britt was charged with:

  • Death by Distribution
  • Trafficking in Opium or Heroin/Fentanyl
  • Trafficking Methamphetamines
  • Possession with the intent to Manufacture, Sell and Deliver Fentanyl
  • Sell and Deliver Schedule I (Fentanyl)
  • Conspiracy to Sell Schedule I (Fentanyl)
  • Maintain/Sell/Deliver/Possess within 1000 feet of a school
  • Possession of a firearm by a felon

According to NHCSO, Britt received an additional 23 drug-related charges and has a $1,190,000 secured bond.

Cribb was charged with:

  • Death by Distribution
  • Possession with the intent to Manufacture, Sell, and Deliver Schedule I (Fentanyl)
  • Sell and Deliver Schedule I (Fentanyl)
  • Conspiracy to Sell Schedule I (Fentanyl)

According to NHCSO, Cribb received a $155,000 secured bond.

Reaves was charged with:

  • Death by Distribution
  • Possession with the intent to Manufacture, Sell, and Deliver Schedule I (Fentanyl)
  • Sell and Deliver Schedule 1 (Fentanyl)
  • Conspiracy to Sell Schedule I (Fentanyl)

According to NHCSO, Reaves received no bond as he waits for his first appearance in New Hanover County Superior Court.

Family files wrongful death suit against Brunswick County Sheriff, deputies, and parole officer

Read the original article or listen to the audio on the WHQR website.

Tina and Tom Johnson have brought a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Brian Chism and several other law enforcement officers. They’re alleging that the department is responsible for the death of their daughter Brittany Johnson. WHQR’s Nikolai Mather sat down with news director Ben Schachtman to discuss the details of this case.

Ben Schachtman: Nikolai — thanks for joining us. So the plaintiffs in this lawsuit are Tina and Tom Johnson. You’ve reported on story before: remind people who they are and what’s the latest.

Nikolai Mather: Yeah, so, the Johnsons are a married couple from Supply. They lost their daughter Brittany Johnson to a meth overdose in 2022. Ever since then, they’ve been asking the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office to share the findings of its investigation into her death. Now, they’re suing several law enforcement officers, saying that they should be held responsible for her death.

BS: So who specifically are they suing?

NM: Four of the defendants are named. There’s Alexander Melvin, who is a deputy for BCSO’s drug enforcement unit; Timmie Clemmons, who is a BCSO detective; Sheriff Brian Chism, and Alice Camden Alessandra, who was Brittany Johnson’s parole officer at the time of her death. The Johnsons are also suing 5 John Does, saying that because they don’t yet know everyone involved in their daughter’s death, they’re using those names as placeholders. They’re also suing Brunswick County as a whole.

BS: Gotcha. So what’s the Johnsons’ case for this as a wrongful death?

NM: Well, to understand that, you have to understand the rocky relationship they have with BCSO.

After investigating, the sheriff’s office declared her cause of death to be accidental drug overdose, with no foul play suspected. But the Johnsons think that’s not the full story. Like, after her death, they found a Bluetooth connection in their daughter’s car labeled “BCSO Surveillance Unit 098.” The sheriff’s office told them they had no idea where it came from, but the Johnsons think it suggests their daughter was a confidential informant for the department.

They’ve asked the sheriff for answers. BCSO told them their daughter wasn’t a CI, but didn’t say whether her friends were. And in a lot of instances, the office has clammed up entirely, saying they need a court order for more info.

BS: So, to be clear, these allegations are things BCSO has disputed or declined to comment on?

NM: Right. These allegations are based on the Johnsons’ own findings, in their own private investigation. And they now say that they have reason to believe their daughter was a confidential informant for the sheriff. Brittany had previously struggled with drug addiction, and her family says putting her in that position ultimately contributed to her relapse and to her death.

BS: I see. So this is a pretty big step – a federal lawsuit is no joke. But I was curious as to whether they were pursuing any criminal charges here, in addition to these civil charges.

NM: That process is a little different. You can ask the FBI or the SBI to look into a case. But ultimately, criminal investigations are up to those guys, whereas anyone can file a civil lawsuit. You’ve been covering the courts longer than me, Ben — is it typical for a civil lawsuit to be filed when there isn’t a criminal investigation?

BS: It really depends on the case. When it comes to law enforcement, there might be a lot of things that aren’t illegal but constitute policy violations. That could involve a review by state authorities — but it wouldn’t be for criminal charges. Also, it’s worth noting that in North Carolina, as in many states, the standard of proof for crimes like involuntary manslaughter — or negligent homicide — is going to be more intense than proving liability in a civil case.

NM: For sure.

BS: So, what’s next for this case?

NM: Well, I asked BCSO some questions about this lawsuit. Glenn Emery, an attorney with the office, said they couldn’t really comment on an ongoing lawsuit.

There’s not a trial date quite yet. The plaintiffs will have to respond, and will likely ask to dismiss the case. But if it stays in court, there will be discovery — meaning the Johnsons will have to produce their evidence, and the Sheriff’s Office will likely have to turn over some documents as well. If the case proceeds, there’s also a good chance some of the people they mention in the suit will be brought in for sworn depositions or asked to sign affidavits.

BS: That was WHQR’s rural reporter Nikolai Mather. Nikolai, thanks for coming by.

NM: You’re welcome.

Two dozen North Carolinians charged in drug trafficking ring

Watch the video and read the article on the WCNC News website.

The arrests come as the Fentanyl Victims Network spreads awareness and seeks justice for families who have lost loved ones to the drug.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Department of Justice announced a federal indictment Tuesday, charging 38 defendants in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina, includes 27 people from the Tar Heel State.

All but one of the defendants are already in custody. 18 of them will have their first court appearances in North Carolina on Tuesday or Wednesday. If convicted, they face up to life in prison for narcotics conspiracy and up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy. 

The charges of narcotics distribution conspiracy include fentanyl, an ongoing problem statewide.

“There is someone who has died from fentanyl in all 100 counties,” Barb Walsh said. “We connect the families to one another so they can gain support and understanding.”

Walsh is the Executive Director of Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina, an organization she founded after her daughter, Sophia, died at just 24 years old.

“Killed by fentanyl in a water bottle in 2021. Took us five months to find out that fentanyl killed her. Took seven months to find out that it was the water bottle,” Walsh said. “We learned that it was killing a lot of North Carolinians and that these families, like myself, felt very alone, and we felt nobody really wanted to hear how or why our loved one died. Once they heard the word fentanyl, they were not interested anymore.”

Amid Tuesday’s arrests, overdoses are going down in the state. The latest CDC data predicts deaths have dropped about 30% from 2023 to 2024. Walsh says this is likely due to education and more distribution of naloxone, which she encourages everyone to keep on them, especially since many victims do not know they’re ingesting fentanyl.

“They think it’s adderall. They think they need to do well on the test, so they’ll take a pill from that they order off Snapchat, and it contains fentanyl, and they’re dead,” Walsh said. “That is how easy someone could die.”

She also wants people experiencing grief from a fentanyl death to know there are resources available.

“Once we are gathered together and understanding our grief together, we have chosen to redirect our pain into passion, and that is to save someone else’s life by educating them about fentanyl,” Walsh said.

You can reach out to Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina at this link or by emailing info@fentvic.org.

Hard-to-prove NC drug law leaves families of fentanyl victims chasing justice

Read the original article on the Charlotte Observer website.

Skateboard wheels skid in front of Sadie’s home, scraping, squeaking, then moving on. She paces between the porch rails, trying to peek at the face below the rider’s floppy hair.

Gwyneth Brown holds a photo of her son, Laird Ramirez, a 17-year-old Mecklenburg highschoolerwho died last July after taking a pressed pill that disguised fentanyl as a Percocet, his parents said. MELISSA MELVIN-RODRIGUEZ mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com

Is it Laird? Looks like Laird. Sounds like him, too, Gwyneth Brown imagines Sadie, her panting, shedding German Shepherd, is thinking.

“I’m with Sadie on this one,” said Brown. “I’m still waiting for him to come home.”

The pair have been waiting more than a year for one of the skaters to kick up their board and walk up the front steps. They never do. It’s never Laird.

Laird Ramirez, a 17-year-old Mecklenburg highschooler, skateboarder and wrestler, died last July after taking a pressed pill that disguised fentanyl — a lethal synthetic opioid — as a Percocet, his parents said.

The Charlotte Observer reported a year ago on accounts from parents and students of how those $7 pills infiltrated Hough High School and how drug incidents inside Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools reached a 10-year high amidst Laird’s death.

Justice, Brown said, did not follow in his wake. While law enforcement and prosecutors say they’re aggressively going after people whose drugs lead to an overdose or fentanyl poisoning, some families say they haven’t seen that — and they’re searching for ways to cope once court dates pass.

Mecklenburg death by distribution cases

A man who was 21 in July 2023 was accused of selling Laird fentanyl and charged with death by distribution.

Brown says there was video footage of that drug deal. She says the drugs captured on camera killed her son. Half a pill was still in his wallet when police returned it to her.

Article continues on the Charlotte Observer website.

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ABC News “Start Here” Podcast features two North Carolina families

Overdose or Murder, Part 1: The Worst Call A Parent Can Get

When someone dies from a drug overdose, who should we blame? And how should they be punished? In Part 1 of this special “Start Here” series, ABC’s Camille Petersen explores the nationwide rise of drug-induced homicide laws, which allow for criminal charges against whoever gave or sold someone the drugs that caused their death. She takes us to North Carolina, where two families grapple with the pain and promise of these new laws. 

Overdose or Murder, Part 2: ‘Perfect’ Justice?

Some families believe drug-induced homicide laws are a powerful form of justice. Others worry the laws will do more harm than good. In Part 2 of this special “Start Here” series, ABC’s Camille Petersen explores the fierce debate over these laws and how they may continue shaping our response to overdose deaths.

NHC Sheriff’s Office arrest suspect in fatal overdose case

Read the original article and watch the video on the WECT6 News website.

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a suspect involved in a fatal overdose investigation that started in May of last year.

Michael Lawrence Walker Jr. was arrested on Friday, Nov. 8 and is suspected of selling and delivering fentanyl to 28-year-old Hannah Holt on May 7, 2023.

Holt was found dead inside an apartment building on Tesla Park Drive. .

Walker was charged with death by distribution, second-degree murder, PWIMSD Sch II CS and sell/deliver Sch II CS. He received no bond and awaits his first appearance in New Hanover County Superior Court.

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