North Carolina

State Facts

3,572 Deaths, or 87% of total overdose deaths, involved opioids in 2022.1

39,606 Beneficiaries on Medicare Part D had opioid use disorder in 2022.2

46.7 Opioid Prescriptions were written for every 100 persons in North Carolina in 2023.3

Over 1.2 Million people in North Carolina, or 11.9% of residents, received a prescription opioid in 2023.4


1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). SUDORS Dashboard: Fatal Drug Overdose Data. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/sudors-dashboard-fatal-overdose-data.html

2. Office of the Inspector General (2023). The Consistently Low Percentage of Medicare Enrollees Receiving Medication to Treat Their Opioid Use Disorder Remains a Concern. https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/evaluation/2722/OEI-02-23-00250-Complete%20Report.pdf

3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Opioid Dispensing Rate Maps. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/opioid-dispensing-rate-maps.html

4. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (2024). North Carolina Overdose Epidemic Data. https://www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/programs/chronic-disease-and-injury/injury-and-violence-prevention-branch/north-carolina-overdose-epidemic-data#data-dashboard