NORTH CAROLINA -- New numbers from the Department of Health and Human Services may indicate North Carolina’s opioid epidemic is worsening.

  • 2017 produced some of the worst numbers ever for the opioid problem in NC
  • In 2018, the number of opioid-related emergency department visits outpaced 2017 by about 60 visits
  • The state's Good Samaritan Law protects a 911 caller and potential victim from prosecution in an emergency

2017 produced some of the worst numbers ever for the state's opioid problem.

But for the first half of 2018 the number of opioid-related emergency department visits outpaced 2017 by about 60 visits.

That could mean more people are using, or it could mean more people are calling 911.

The North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition says they've pushed hard to make the community aware of the protections of the Good Samaritan Law.

"We've tried to get it out into the community, to those that we serve, just letting them know that 'Hey, you can call 911. You're protected.' So we do see more people calling 911," said NCHRC’s Jesse Bennett.

The state's Good Samaritan Law protects a 911 caller and potential victim from prosecution in an emergency.

Get the latest news, sports and weather delivered straight to your inbox. Click here to sign up for email and text alerts.