ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Matthew Bacoate says Asheville is unrecognizable compared to the way it was when he grew up here.

What You Need To Know

  • Overdose deaths are on the rise. It comes as the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services expanded its recovery program earlier this year

  • A majority of deaths in North Carolina are believed to involve fentanyl

  • Safe Plus More is an app created to trying to make a difference and save lives by making social services accessible on a phone

“Based on, you know, the number of people that are in the community, the number of families that are being affected by not only substance abuse, but mental health issues,” Bacoate said.

He sees that substance abuse problems in the community have changed since the '80s and '90s.

“There’s a lot of co-morbidity going on with that, which means that they have a substance abuse problem, as well as mental health issues,” Bacoate said.

In 2015 during the opioid crisis, Bacoate realized new solutions needed to be created to help those toward recovery.

“The thing that struck me about it was, we’ve had these things all along and the numbers are continuing to escalate so there’s got to be a different approach to reaching this population,” Bacoate said.

That is when his app, Safe Plus More, was born. Safe Plus More gives people access to assistance and full system treatment wherever they are.

“Once they’re in the app, they don’t have to come out to call, to email, to do any correspondence, they can do it all through the app,” Bacoate said.

The help is needed now more than ever. In 2021, North Carolina reported a 22% increase in overdose deaths. A majority of those likely involved fentanyl.

That’s why the app helps with every aspect — from jobs and housing to personal trauma support and court information.

“According to what people are dealing with, or information that they need, they can go directly to that area,” Bacoate said.

The app also acts as a resource for mental health for a variety of populations, including first responders.

Rick Baker is the founder of Responder Support Services, and he works with first responders in several counties across the state and acts as a liaison between them and the app. 

“The app is greasing the wheels for more and more first responders to reach out and seek talking to a counselor as maintenance and not something that should be perceived as a weakness,” Baker said.

He says he has seen a change in the number of suicides among emergency services.

“With the app and some other interventions being put into place, we’re seeing the rates come down. We’re not seeing suicides as often as we did 10 years ago,” Baker said. 

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with a crisis or mental health issue, help is available 24 hours a day by dialing 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.