When one has a substance abuse disorder, it often can’t be treated alone. Those who abuse alcohol and drugs often need professional help and other resources to overcome their addictions. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some resources for those in Mecklenburg County to get long-term or acute help for their substance use.
Help For People Who Are Addicted To Alcohol and Drugs In Mecklenburg County
According to the North Carolina Department Of Health And Human Services, there are more than nine drug overdoses in the state every day, 8 of them from opioids. If you count all drug overdoses there were 3,118 NC overdose deaths in 2020. The NCDHHS says there is an “opioid epidemic” happening.
In 2022, there were 688 Opioid Overdose ED Visits in Mecklenburg County alone. Most of those ER visits were for people 25-34. In the state of North Carolina, there were more than 15,000 reports of ER visits for overdoses.
The rate of alcohol use among youth is at around 32% and vaping and E-cigarettes are overtaking smoking as a risk.
According to the Mecklenburg Pulse Report: “In addition to rising synthetic opioid overdose deaths, Mecklenburg County has also seen a steady increase in cocaine-related overdose deaths. In 2010, there were 7 overdoses related to cocaine, and by 2019, there were 82 cocaine-related overdose deaths, an increase of 1,071%”
According to the same study: “In November 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that drug overdose deaths in the United States topped 100,000 between May 2020 and April 2021, an estimated increase of 28.5% from the same period the year before. The CDC estimated that over 75,000 of the 100,306 overdose deaths were from opioids, and there were increases in deaths from synthetic opioids (fentanyl), methamphetamine, cocaine, and prescription opioids. The T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University estimates that the number of people who died from overdoses is three times the number of deaths from car crashes and double the number of gun deaths during the same period.”
Hotlines for Addiction Help in Mecklenburg County
Below you’ll find some hotlines to call if you are in a crisis, including suicide hotlines in english and spanish. For a complete list of available hotlines, see the Mecklenburg County Website:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Available 24 Hours: 704-332-4387
Mobile Crisis Services: 704-566-3410 (option 1)
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) available 24 hours: 980-200-9349
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Spanish Speaking Suicide Hotline: 1-888-628-9454
The Relatives Hotline (emergency shelter for youth & teens): 704-377-0602
Meetings And Support Groups
Meetings such as AA and NA can be great resources for those in recovery.
A full list of all Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the Mecklenburg County Area can be found here: https://aanorthcarolina.org/meetings/?tsml-region=charlotte
A full list of all Narcotics Anonymous meetings in the Mecklenburg County Area can be found here:https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/text-results.php?city=Charlotte&country=USA&day=0&lang=&orderby=datetime&state=North%20Carolina&street=&within=20&zip=
Needle Exchange
While we don’t condone the use of narcotics, if addicts are using they should use clean needles to avoid potentially serious health problems such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis. At these sites used needles also may be disposed of, so as not to harm the greater community. Needle exchanges are available at:
Kannapolis and Concord, NC
Gaston County, Text 828-291-7023
Phoenix Community Outreach Center (PCOC)
Gastonia, NC, 24/7 crisis line: 855-527-4747
Charlotte, NC, Text 980-213-9909
Hospitals
Atrium Health Mercy
Address: 2001 Vail Ave, Charlotte, NC 28207
Phone: (704) 304-5000
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
Address: 200 Hawthorne Ln, Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: (704) 384-4000
Atrium Health Pineville
Address: 10628 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
Phone: (704) 667-1000
Novant Health
Address: 8401 Medical Plaza Dr #220, Charlotte, NC 28262
Phone: (704) 384-1570
NARCAN Information and Resources
NARCAN, or Naloxone, is a lifesaving drug for those who are in the throes of an opioid overdose. Administered as a spray though the nose, it can reverse the effects of an overdose almost immediately. It can be collected, for free, at two health departments in Mecklenburg County, as well as the needle exchanges mentioned above.
Mecklenburg County Northwest
Phone: 704-336-4700
Mecklenburg County Health Department
Address: 2845 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte NC 28216
Mecklenburg County Southeast
Phone: 704-336-4700
Mecklenburg County Health Department
Address: 249 Billinsley Road, Charlotte NC 28211
Help For Those With Drug And Alcohol Addiction
If you or one of your loved ones is experiencing drug or alcohol addiction, there is help in Mecklenburg County. At Midwood Addiction Treatment, we offer all kinds of services to treat those with addictions, and to help keep addicts sober. Remember, these are treatable diseases and many, many people lead happy, healthy lives after addiction.
If you think a loved one or yourself might need help, give us a call at (704) 741-0771 and we can help you get your life back.