NCDHHS hosting tele-town hall on substance use prevention for teens, young adults

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Thursday, Aug. 3, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss substance use, overdose prevention and how we can support teens and young adults in North Carolina.

Event participants include:

• Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, NCDHHS
• Blake Fagan, M.D., Clinical Director of Substance Use Disorders at MAHEC and Professor of Family Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill
• Elizabeth Montgomery, MA, Coordinator, NC Partnership for Success, Addiction Professionals of North Carolina

Substance use disorders and the overdose crisis affect families and communities across North Carolina, with more than 41,000 youth between the ages of 12 and 17 navigating a substance use disorder in the past year. The majority of adults with a substance use disorder start to use during their teen and young adult years. It is essential to educate youth about substance use and overdose prevention as we work to provide mental health, crisis and treatment services to young people in need.

Fireside chat and tele-town hall panelists will discuss the following:

• Ways for parents and caregivers to talk to youth about mental health, substance use and overdose
• Signs of substance use and where to find support, tools to reduce harm and treatment
• How to recognize symptoms of an overdose and respond
• Resources to increase access to health services and address disparities

The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted many people’s mental health and use of substances. More people have reported anxiety and depression in addition to higher incidences of substance use. Overdose deaths in North Carolina increased 22% in 2021, and teen overdose deaths across the country also increased by 20%. NCDHHS continues to advance efforts to provide mental and behavioral health support, substance use care and accessible treatment across the state.

Resources are available in North Carolina to support teens and young adults through substance use challenges. Health care providers with expertise in youth substance use, education for families, tools to reduce harm and substance use reduction and treatment efforts are essential to prevent overdose and expand ongoing efforts to reduce health disparities.

The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can also dial into the event by calling (855) 756-7520 Ext. 95262#.

NCDHHS’ fireside chats and tele-town halls are part of the state’s ongoing public efforts to ensure equitable access to timely health information, resources and vaccines, and eliminate health disparities.