By: Dalton Barrett, CP-C and Savannah Junkins, PA-C

Access to drug checking services has revolutionized the way we are able to counsel and treat our patients in Edgecombe County. We were able to identify the presence of xylazine for the first time in our county when it was previously only a rumor.  We proved to patients that many of their stimulant supplies contained fentanyl, which encouraged the use of fentanyl testing strips that they originally thought they didn’t need. The results of drug checking samples are shared in printed format, with the name and picture of the stamp included, so that drug users can easily link the stamp they’ve often seen to its actual contents.

In the office treatment setting, patients are grateful for the knowledge gained from drug checking results, and the acknowledgment that we are more concerned about their individual safety above all else. This is often the place where patients feel they can’t be honest about their use or ask the important things they need to know, for fear of disappointment or repercussion from their health care providers.  This is one way we can demonstrate that we truly practice a harm reduction approach, in addition to offering syringe service program supplies as part of the treatment plan. 

In the community space, the impact of a paramedic who is willing to gather and submit samples to make drug users safer has opened so many doors we never imagined. Community members who aren’t well informed about substance use are genuinely surprised and interested in the results when shared in local presentations and meetings. Drug users who are rightfully suspicious of first responders based on their past experiences are able to develop a trusting relationship instead, and are given a chance to help their own communities by contributing meaningful information about the drug supply.  Combining this service with mobile syringe supplies further strengthens these relationships.

We are beyond grateful to have this valuable opportunity to help our community in a way that’s never been done before in Edgecombe County.  The trust, communication, and relationships we’ve developed with drug users as a result has made our respective programs more effective than ever.  This is how we go beyond saying that we meet patients where they are, to proving it.

Edgecombe in the News

We've had great local TV coverage from WRAL (Raleigh) on our collaboration. These three 2-minute videos tell a lot of the story in a very compelling manner.

Here's an overview of the work in Edgecombe County:

Edgecombe County investigation finds 22 hidden substances in street drugs

There have been 22 hidden substances found in street drugs in Edgecombe County since September such as caffeine and fentanyl. A new program is helping fight the problem.

WRALWRAL

This one shows us working together to find out what caused fatal overdoses (youtube):

Drugs sold as fentanyl in Goldsboro, Edgecombe overdoses contained 8 different substances

Xylazine, Benzatropine, a hallucinogen and another kind of designer chemical among drugs detected in sample linked to dozens of eastern North Carolina overdoses.

WRALWRAL

And the most recent one shows how we collaborate to identify new emerging substances like BTMPS:

Public health officials warn about rare and dangerous substance discovered in eastern North Carolina

A rare and dangerous substance has been discovered in eastern North Carolina for the first time.

WRALHeidi Kirk, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter