Buncombe County warns of opioid overdose increase

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Buncombe County reminds the public of the rise in opiate overdoses in the county, particularly in the 28806-zip code area.

Buncombe County Communications Manager, Stacey Wood, said the county released a Nov. 5 press release in response to a real-time spike in overdoses.

According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, there were 266 emergency department overdose visits from medications or drugs, with dependency potential, in Buncombe County during the 2024 fiscal year.

Buncombe County strongly encourages agencies to distribute Naloxone, promote harm reduction resources, and recommend fentanyl test strips for all substances.

The county said its priority is community safety, and community paramedics are responding to overdoses. Buncombe County partners are helping prevent overdoses by providing services and sharing public notifications, the county said.

Local harm reduction resources offer essential, life-saving services and support for individuals who are actively using, in recovery, or considering starting recovery, the county said.

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Local Harm Reduction Resources:

Western North Carolina AIDS Project provides safer injection supplies, overdose reversal kits, testing, care connections, and community navigation through its harm reduction program.

Address: 554 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday

Phone: (828) 252-7489

Buncombe County Health and Human Services offers syringe services, connections to care, STD/STI testing, and rapid Hep C and HIV testing and treatment. Delivery is available for established participants.

Address: 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801

Hours: noon to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday

Steady Collective offers syringe access and disposal, overdose prevention resources, care referrals, and harm reduction education.

East Asheville: Tuesday, 12 pm – 1:30 pm, 201 Tunnel Road #100, Asheville, NC 28805

Downtown Asheville: Wednesday, 10 am – 12:30 pm, 271 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801

West Asheville: Friday, 2 pm – 5 pm, 12 New Jersey Avenue, Asheville, NC 28806

Holler Harm Reduction provides harm reduction supplies and overdose prevention materials. Call or text (828) 290-9066 for supply delivery.

Service Areas: Madison County, North Buncombe, and Leicester

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Additional Resources:

• Alerts: Text “START” to 828-33-ALERT (828-332-5378) to receive free, encrypted, anonymous alerts about contamination in drug supplies in Buncombe County.
• Buncombe County Post-Overdose Response Team: If you or someone else has experienced an overdose, call (828) 772-1294.
• The Western North Carolina Listening Lineis available from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at (828) 547-4547.
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call, text, or chat at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support and resource connections for mental health, emotional distress, and substance use concerns.
• Peer Support Specialists: Call 1-855-PEERS NC (855-733-7762) 24/7 for non-clinical support from individuals with lived experience in recovery from mental illness or substance use disorder.