Opioid Education

The Jacksonville Department of Public Safety was awarded the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) grant which afforded more opportunities for education for our community and the students in the Onslow County School System. Due to the grant, our department has a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist who assists in helping citizens get in treatment, as well as ensuring that children affected by substance use receive counseling services. The Jacksonville Department of Public Safety mental health providers, in partnership with local substance abuse and mental health agencies, have been active in multidisciplinary teams to hold meetings to address the opioid crisis and to fill gaps of services in the community. Educational resources presented at these meetings are included on this web page for those affected by opioids, their families, first responders, and prescribers.

Opioids

Opioids include illegal drugs such as heroin, as well as prescription medications used to treat pain such as morphine, codeine, methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, and buprenorphine. Opioids work by binding to specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract and minimize the body's perception of pain. (source: SAMHSA)

Opioid overdose continues to be a major public health problem in the United States.  Between 2016-2021, the percentage of opioid deaths in NC involving illicit opioids increased by 93.3%, with an 83.4% increase in Onslow County. The most prevalent substance found was fentanyl, with 67.3% of overdose reports containing some form of the substance (COSSAP Year 2 Report)

Lethal dose of Fentanyl (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration)

lethal dose of fentanyl compared to a U.S. penny

Opioid Education Resources

SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Toolkit (PDF)

  • Important Facts about Opioids
  • Essential Steps for First Responders
  • Information for Prescribers
  • Safety Advice for Patients and Family Members
  • Recovering from Opioid Overdose

Effects of Opioid Abuse in Teens - by Dr. Tobi Gilbert, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Certified Addictions Professional and by Jacksonville Public Safety, Police Crisis Counselor (PDF)

  • Drug Addiction & Abuse
  • Signs & Symptoms of Opioid Use
  • Where to get help

Identifying and Understanding the Opioid Crisis in Our Community - City of Jacksonville Public Safety, Police Department (PDF)

  • Education
  • Prevention
  • Intervention

Ways To Help

Donate to the Onslow County Resource Gap Fund- Onslow Community Outreach

Community Resources 

Street Sheet of Local Resources

Additional Resources