Yesterday, Attorney General Josh Stein and NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina President and CEO Patrick Conway and Atrium Health President and CEO Eugene A. Woods, launched More Powerful NC – a public education campaign to prevent and confront opioid addiction by empowering people to fight against addiction in their communities. The NC Chamber is proud to be a part of this campaign as a member of the More Powerful NC coalition, which is comprised of businesses, health care organizations, state agencies, public safety associations and more.

The campaign will include TV, radio, outdoor, and digital ads that encourage people to safely dispose of unneeded prescription medication and to talk to their doctors about alternatives to opioids for treating pain. In addition, the More Powerful NC website provides people with facts about the epidemic, information about addiction treatment and recovery, and suggestions for ways to get involved. It also makes available toolkits for parents, educators, coaches, local government officials and others to help people take action in their own communities.

Over the last ten years, opioid overdoses have doubled. Now, five people die every day from opioid overdoses in North Carolina. The opioid epidemic is devastating our state, heavily weighing on North Carolina’s health care, criminal justice system and workforce. We must do all we can to solve this public health crisis. If you’re interested in joining the More Powerful NC campaign as a community or statewide partner, click here. Together, we’re more powerful than the opioid epidemic.

Gary J. Salamido
Chief Operating Officer and Acting President
NC Chamber