Known for its diverse landscapes and wildlife, North Carolina is home to about 10.7 million people. Like many places in the U.S., North Carolina residents have been affected by addiction. Between 2021 and 2022, nearly 16% of National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) respondents aged 18 or older experienced past-year substance use disorder (SUD) in North Carolina. Keep reading to learn more about free addiction resources in North Carolina to find the help you need.
Drug Statistics in North Carolina
Many southern states have felt the impact of addiction and the drug crisis. North Carolina ranks number 5 concerning high rates of overdose incidents, opioid emergencies, drug-related crime, and narcotics violations. Here are some statistics about addiction and treatment in North Carolina between 2021 and 2023:
Addiction Nonprofits in North Carolina
North Carolina 211
North Carolina 211 connects residents to various statewide health and social services. They refer callers to mental health and addiction care, education assistance, employment support, food, clothing, and shelter.
Recovery Communities of NC Community Center
This Raleigh community program supports people fighting addiction from all walks of life. They offer peer support groups, recovery coaching, employment training, sober activities, and social service referrals.
The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center
This faith-based residential treatment center supports North Carolina residents struggling with substance use disorder. Their free 180-day work-therapy program offers social, emotional, and spiritual support to help clients achieve long-term recovery. They provide individual and group counseling, holistic work therapy, spiritual guidance, and life-skills development to build coping skills and restore families.
Harm Reduction Programs
NC Harm Reduction Coalition
This association offers harm reduction services, programs, and resources for North Carolina residents. Residents have access to syringe service programs and resources on overdose prevention, safe drug use, and LGBTQ+ safety. They also provide overdose prevention training for first responders and law enforcement.
North Carolina Survivors Union
This organization runs the Greensboro Health Hub, a helpful resource center for harm reduction services. They offer fentanyl testing strips, naloxone kits, clean syringes, and drug testing services. They also have weekly meetings to educate staff, program participants, and affiliate groups about safer drug use and overdose prevention.
Naloxone Saves
Naloxone Saves is a harm reduction resource, offering information on naloxone use for overdoses and where to find it. They also connect visitors with SUD treatment resources, overdose data, and tips for safer drug use.
Government Grants & Resources
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS)
This government program connects North Carolina residents with multiple SUD and mental health assistance resources. Visitors have access to crisis services, treatment centers, supportive housing, counseling, and jail diversion programs.
NC Department of Adult Correction (DOA)
The DOA offers Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Programs (ACDPs) for North Carolina residents in the criminal justice system. ACDPs provide 4 levels of care: community-based inpatient care, prison-based intensive outpatient intermediate treatment, prison-based intensive outpatient long-term treatment, and addiction aftercare services.
NC Medicaid
NC Medicaid provides access to substance abuse and mental health treatment coverage. North Carolina residents with Medicaid can receive partial or full coverage for SUD treatment services, such as medical detox, residential rehab, outpatient programs, and addiction aftercare, based on their policy.
College Addiction Resources
UNC Medical Center
This university addiction treatment program works with clients to create a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan focused on harm reduction or abstinence. They provide various client-centered services, including outpatient individual, group, family, and couples therapy, adolescent programs, trauma-informed care, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), clinical assessments, and more.
Duke University Health System
This university health center provides cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults battling mental health conditions, SUD, and co-occurring disorders. They offer personalized care and a range of therapeutic interventions, such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), prolonged exposure, mindfulness-based therapy, exposure and response prevention, cognitive processing therapy, and CBT for anxiety, depression, bipolar, and mood disorders.
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University has on-campus counseling services for students seeking counseling, addiction treatment, crisis assistance, and assessments. They also offer referrals and off-campus treatment resources for intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), regular outpatient care, and peer support.
LGBTQ+ Resources
Blue Ridge Pride
This community-based program lists mental health and substance use resources for North Carolina LGBTQ+ community residents. Resources include LGBTQ+-friendly counseling and therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), peer support groups, and harm reduction programs. Some services are free, while others offer income-based sliding fee scales or accept insurance.
The LGBTQ Center of Durham
This community center offers Project FAM, a program that has housing and therapeutic services, gender resources, advocacy, and support programs and services for LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic and sexual violence. They provide case management, medication management, therapy, and transportation assistance.
Transcend Charlotte
Transcend Charlotte has free and low-cost social support, mental health, and education services for members of the LGBTQ+ community aged 18 or older who reside in Mecklenburg and surrounding North and South Carolina counties. They offer counseling, case management, group support, and an “xpression space”, providing free shoes, clothing, accessories, makeup, and other life items.
Veterans Programs
North Carolina VA Medical Centers
The VA offers addiction and mental health treatment for veterans and their families. VA benefits often cover different levels of care like medical detox, residential treatment, outpatient programs, and addiction aftercare.
NC Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
This government agency provides health and social services for Veterans and their families. They have mental health and addiction treatment resources, including medical detox, residential treatment, various types of outpatient care, and aftercare services.
Veterans Services of The Carolinas
Veterans Services of The Carolinas connects North and South Carolina Veterans who are homeless with mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and peer support. They also offer housing programs, employment assistance, service coordination, and suicide prevention services.
Drug Laws in North Carolina
Good Samaritan Law
This law allows North Carolina residents to access, carry, and administer Narcan to reverse the effects of a drug overdose. It protects bystanders who intervene to help, in good faith, from civil and criminal liability.
Involuntary Commitment in North Carolina
This law explains the criteria for someone to be eligible for involuntary commitment into treatment due to SUD or other mental health conditions.
Controlled Substances Regulations
This law explains controlled substance possession, manufacturing, and distribution penalties. It describes different drug schedules and potential convictions.