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Fentanyl deaths decrease across state, Richmond’s rate remains highest

Read the original article on the Richmond Observer website.

ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County continues to have the state’s highest fentanyl-positive death rate, although the number of such deaths continues to drop statewide.

According to the latest figures published by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the rate of fentanyl-positive deaths in Richmond County from July of 2024 to August of 2025 was 38.1 — more than twice the statewide rate of 14.3.

(NOTE: Rates are per 100,000.)

The OCME no longer lists the actual number of deaths per county, however, the rate is the same as it was for the 12 months ending in July of 2025.

Other counties with the top-1o highest rates are: Bladen (33.6); Gaston (30.6); Burke (30.5); Robeson (29.5); Pasquotank (26.6); Yadkin (26.3); Wilson (25); Buncombe (24.4); and Rowan (22.2).

Statistics show that, statewide, deaths decreased by 17% from 126 in July to 104 in August. Fentanyl-positive deaths are also down 26% compared to the first eight months of 2024, and numbers are the lowest since 2019. 

Neighboring Anson County is one of about a dozen counties with no fentanyl-positive deaths in the past year.

The total number of such deaths peaked in 2022 at 3,358. That year, the county’s rate topped out at 76.7.

Based on reports, fentanyl was the only substance present in 19% of deaths. Over the past year, cocaine has been the largest contributor in polysubstance use fentanyl-positive deaths (36%-53%), followed closely by methamphetamine (22%-41%).

Man arrested in connection with 2024 fatal overdose in Pleasant Garden

Read the original article on the ABC45 News website.

Detectives from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Investigative Unit have arrested a 31-year-old man following an extensive investigation into a fatal overdose that occurred in April 2024.

The incident took place on April 29, 2024, when deputies responded to a reported overdose at 6012 Laurel Knoll Drive in Pleasant Garden, N.C. Upon arrival, Guilford County Emergency Services pronounced 41-year-old Roger Lee Brown Jr. deceased.

With assistance from the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office, detectives charged Dylan Wayne Brown with felony death by distribution. He is being held in the Guilford County Detention Center in Greensboro under a $100,000 secured bond. Brown’s first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, at 2 p.m.

Death By Distribution Charge Filed In 2024 Fatal Overdose

Read the original article on the Rhino Times website.

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office has charged a man in connection with a fatal overdose that happened a year and a half ago.

According to Sheriff Danny Rogers, detectives with the Major Crimes Investigative Unit arrested 31-year-old Dylan Wayne Brown on Monday, Nov. 24, following what the department described as an extensive investigation into the April 2024 death of 41-year-old Roger Lee Brown Jr.

On April 29 of last year, deputies responded to 6012 Laurel Knoll Drive in Pleasant Garden for a reported overdose. While deputies were on the way, Guilford County Emergency Services pronounced Roger Lee Brown Jr. deceased at the scene.

Investigators said the case moved forward with assistance from the NC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office.

 Detectives ultimately charged Dylan Wayne Brown (pictured above) with Felony Death by Distribution.

Brown is currently being held in the Guilford County Detention Center in Greensboro under a $100,000 secured bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, at 2 p.m.

The Sheriff’s Department said the investigation remains ongoing and added that there’s no additional information available at this time.

Anyone with information related to the case is being urged to contact Detective J. Allen at 336-641-2799 or Guilford County Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000.

Suspect arrested after man dies of overdose in Guilford County

Read the original article on the MyFox8 News website.

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — A suspect has been arrested after allegedly supplying drugs to a man who overdosed, according to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.

On Monday, deputies arrested Dylan Wayne Brown, 31, on a charge of felony death by distribution in connection with the death of 41-year-old Roger Lee Brown Jr.

Brown Jr. died on April 29, 2024. Deputies had responded to the 6000 block of Laurel Knoll Drive in Pleasant Garden regarding a reported overdose. The sheriff’s office says Guilford County Emergency Services pronounced him dead en route.

Brown Jr. is being held under a $100,000 secured bond.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective J. Allen at (336) 641-2799 or Guilford County Crime Stoppers at (336) 373-1000.

3 face drug charges following probe into suspected fentanyl death

Read the original article on the Sampson Independent website.

Three Clinton-area men are behind bars this afternoon, facing a multitude of drug charges related to an ongoing death investigation involving a 49-year-old woman believed to have died from a suspected fentanyl overdose.

Dustin Millen

Warrants were issued Tuesday for James Bradford, 38, 1200 Taylors Bridge Hwy., Clinton, Dustin Millen, 37, 1200 Taylors Bridget Hwy., Clinton, and Benjamin Rackley, 43, of 50 Quarterhorse Lane, Clinton, with Bradford being taken into custody Tuesday, Nov. 18, and Miller and Rackley jailed earlier today, Nov. 20.

Miller is facing charges of trafficking in Schedule II controlled substance (fentanyl), possession methamphetamine, maintaining a dwelling for the use or sale of a controlled substance, sell or delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance, conspiracy to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Benjamin Rackley

According to Sampson County Sheriff’s reports, Bradford was charged with trafficking in a Schedule II controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a dwelling for the use or sale of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Rackley, reports show, was charged with maintaining a dwelling for the use or sale of a controlled substance, sell or deliver of a Schedule II controlled substance (fentanyl), conspiracy to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

James Bradford

The arrests come on the heels of a joint operation between the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, the Special Investigation Division, the Uniform Patrol Division, the Criminal Interdiction Team and the Animal Control unit.

Sampson County Sheriff’s Capt. Marcus Smith noted in a release that a series of three search warrants were issued as a result of that operation, followed by the arrest of the three individuals.

The warrants were obtained, he said, as part of an ongoing probe into the 49-year-old Clinton woman’s death on Nov. 18, one suspected to be tied to a fentanyl overdose.

Continue reading “3 face drug charges following probe into suspected fentanyl death”

Leland man pleads guilty to death by distribution

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

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A Leland man has pleaded guilty to charges involving a fatal overdose in 2022.

42-year-old William McKinley Huckaby pleaded guilty to death by distribution and attempted trafficking in methamphetamine, according to a release from the District Attorney’s Office.

James Ray Lewis, 42, died from fentanyl toxicity on June 24, 2022. Investigators from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office discovered a syringe and other drug paraphernalia near his body, which suggested fentanyl ingestion.

Detectives later discovered text messages between the two men. In one message, Huckaby encouraged Lewis to steal vacuums from a retailer in exchange for drugs, according to authorities.

The other messages also indicate that Huckaby had previously profited from tools Lewis stole in exchange for drugs, according to the DA’s Office.

Law enforcement claimed that Huckaby had roughly 26 grams of methamphetamine and a dosage unit of fentanyl on him when he was arrested.

“William Huckaby encouraged those severely addicted to opioids to steal merchandise for him with the promise of fentanyl for payment,” District Attorney Jason W. Smith said. “Huckaby’s exploitation of the addicted represents why our lawmakers enacted the Death by Distribution law. In many instances, severe addiction disrupts the decision-making parts of the brain, and those who profit while exploiting this addiction will be sent to prison.”

Huckaby was sentenced to 76 to 104 months in prison and 2 years in the residential recovery program TROSA afterward.

From revival to recovery: Some paramedics are changing the front line of addiction care

Read the original article on the North Carolina Health News website.

Supplies, such as the medications naloxone and buprenorphine, carried by Buncombe County community paramedics on the post-overdose response team. Credit: Courtesy of Justin Hall
By Rachel Crumpler

A life lost in Buncombe County in 2022 still weighs on — and motivates — Shuchin Shukla, a family physician who specializes in addiction medicine. 

A community paramedic had responded to an overdose involving a person recently released from jail. After reviving them, the paramedic told the patient about a soon-to-launch program that would start people on a medication used to treat opioid addiction after an overdose. 

“That would be amazing if you had it now, I would like to start now,” the patient said, according to a shift note of the encounter. 

But the program was still 10 days from launch. 

Soon after, the person used again, experienced a second overdose and went into cardiac arrest. They later died at the hospital.

“For the team working on this, the case hit home that every moment of every day matters for patients. At any minute, they’re at risk of dying or having an overdose,” Shukla said. “That’s how critical this is.”

For months, Shukla had been working with Buncombe County Emergency Medical Services to launch Buncombe Bridge to Care, a project to equip paramedics to administer buprenorphine — a medication proven to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings and support long-term recovery for people with opioid use disorder — when responding to overdoses or others in the community struggling with addiction.

Continue reading “From revival to recovery: Some paramedics are changing the front line of addiction care”
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