New laws, new enforcement and family stories work to reduce OD deaths in NC

WRAL shows how fentanyl has destroyed the lives of thousands of North Carolinians across the state, what the state is doing to fight this epidemic and what more is needed to save lives.

Posted 10:33 p.m. Mar 16, 2023 — Updated 10:33 p.m. Mar 16, 2023

Cristin Severance

, WRAL investigative reporter/ documentary producer

Fentanyl is killing people in North Carolina at a record pace.

More than 4,000 people in North Carolina died from drug overdoses in 2021, the most substance abuse related deaths ever recorded in the state. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), 77% of those deaths involved fentanyl.

Those deaths and the devastated families they leave behind are the topic of WRAL's latest documentary, Crisis Next Door.

Lori and Jeff Nash were among those who shared their heartbreaking story of loss. Their daughter – 27-year-old Amanda – died from a fentanyl overdose last March. They had no idea what fentanyl was until she died.

Fentanyl is an opioid. When it's produced by pharmaceutical companies and approved by the FDA, it's used for acute and chronic pain.

Illicit fentanyl that people are dying from is produced by drug cartels and used for money making purposes not for healthcare. As little as two milligrams can lead to death. Drug dealers can use a little amount and make their drugs extremely powerful.

"The entire illicit drug market is, has been contaminated by fentanyl," says North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. "And that's why we're seeing an incredible spike in opioid overdose deaths."

Stein has asked the legislature to pay for a special Fentanyl Control Unit to focus on large-scale fentanyl cases.

As overdose deaths climb, new statewide unit could be created to handle fentanyl cases

Stein explained, "We are seeing more and more cases having to do with drug trafficking and drug dealing and local district attorneys, they do not have enough resources to bring all of the cases that they need to bring in their own districts, whether it's murders or sexual assaults in addition to these drug trafficking cases. And they're very complicated. And we want to offer assistance to local DAs by having a specialized group of prosecutors to help bring these cases."

WRAL interviewed three different families for Crisis Next Door who all lost children to fentanyl overdoses.

In each case, someone was arrested and charged for selling drugs laced with fentanyl.

"The person they arrested in Amanda's case was arrested with a lot of fentanyl, enough to kill a lot of people," said Jeff Nash.

Now, there is a push from the legislature for stricter penalties for the people who sell or provide drugs with fentanyl.

"What this bill does is our solution to combat the fentanyl and opioid epidemic," said Sen. Danny Britt (R-Hoke).

Right now, the most common sentence now for dealers whose customers die is 10 to 20 months.

Under this bill, dealers with lengthy records could face more than a decade in prison. Those who act with malice could face more than 30 years behind bars.

It would also amend North Carolina’s Good Samaritan law to include immunity for someone in possession with less than one gram of fentanyl who calls to report an overdose.

Mothers of overdose victims raise awareness of Good Samaritan law

Orange County District Attorney Jeff Nieman said, "The purpose of that, and I want to get this message out loud and clear, is the last thing we want people to be thinking about if they have someone who's dying is, should I call 911 because I don't want to get busted for a drug charge."

All of these efforts are aimed at stopping families from going through what the Nash family is feeling right now.

"I think if there's anybody out there who's having suspicions about someone they love, maybe they need to hear Amanda's story," said Jeff Nash.