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• Ensuring timely access to high-quality services, and • Integrating behavioral health, I/DD, and physical health for children and adults.
The Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan focuses on four key areas to reduce the impact of the epidemic: Center Equity and Lived Experiences • Implement programs to reorient systems and increase cultural competence • Acknowledge systems that disproportionately harm historically marginalized populations.
Prevention • Cutting supply of inappropriate prescriptions and illicit opioids • Supporting youth through targeted programs to reduce youth misuse of the drugs • Improving maternal and prenatal care for women battling substance abuse Reducing Harm • Training systems and pharmacists to connect people to harm reduction services • Making the naloxone kits more widely available to the most burdened communities
Connecting to Care • Expanding access to treatment and recovery support • Addressing the needs of justice-involved populations
North Carolina law (N.C.G.S. Sec. 108A-29.1) requires, if there is reasonable suspicion, substance use screening and drug testing (urine toxicology) for the illegal use of controlled substances for each Work First program adult applicant or participant is a condition of eligibility to receive assistance. Adult applicants or participants will complete a verbal substance use questionnaire designed to determine if an adult applicant or participant is at risk for alcohol and/or substance use disorders. When the results indicate illicit substance use, this meets criteria of ‘reasonable suspicion’ and a drug test is required within a period of time as specified by the Department. In order to establish eligibility to apply for Work First all applicants must have a background check completed by Work First to determine if there is a criminal conviction related to an illegal controlled substance within the past three years. If there is, this is the second criteria that meets reasonable suspicion’ and requires a toxicology test. The results of drug tests will remain confidential and will not be released to law enforcement. If an adult refuses to be screened initially for substance use, the adult is ineligible for Work First Cash Assistance. If otherwise eligible, the remaining household members can receive cash assistance.
When an applicant or participant is determined to be at risk for an alcohol use disorder, they are referred to a Qualified Professional in Substance Abuse (QPSA) for a substance use disorder assessment and referred to substance used disorder treatment if indicated.