A regional substance use information campaign, NENC Connect , was developed by a regional substance misuse taskforce to address a gap in locating substance use services and information. The taskforce was comprised of staff from local health departments, LME/MCOs, and substance use service providers, as well as other interested community members, and was led by the NENCPPH. The campaign included the development of an app/website, window clings, stickers, and post cards with a unique logo and QR code which will connect individuals to the website (https://nencconnect.org/) which contains substance use information and a service provider locator. Telephone numbers are also posted on window clings, the website, and printed materials which provide 24/7 access to information and services. Local health departments, businesses and service providers in the communities are asked to display the window clings. This campaign is being funded in part through a Vidant Medical Center Grant.
The NENCPPH first identified substance abuse as one of its top priorities to address for FY 2013-14. One issue which was recognized as an increasing problem was that of prescription drug overdose and poisoning. The NENCPPH applied and was accepted to attend the Injury-Free NC Academy which focused on prescription drug poisoning and overdose. A multi-disciplinary team was assembled and sent to the Injury-Free NC Academy in Chapel Hill. Initially, the focus identified was community prevention education, however, the focus changed while at the Academy to provider education, and registration in and use of the Controlled Substance Registry System (CSRS). Awareness of prescription drug abuse was provided not only to the team, but to the NENCPPH Board of Directors during one of its meeting. The Health Directors in the NENCPPH were asked to send out letters to providers in their counties to notify them of the trainings being provided on chronic disease and prescription pain medications. Providers were given an opportunity to register on the CSRS at that time. The subsequent step was for interested communities to form community coalitions to further identify strategies to implement in their communities.
Subsequently, a NENCPPH substance abuse task force was formed. An inventory of programs was completed by East Carolina University. Local forums and educational opportunities have been provided throughout the region. A regional roundtable to share ideas was also held a number of times for regional local health department staff. A quarterly LHD Substance Misuse Forum was also established in 2019, which then morphed into a regional substance misuse taskforce to address a gap in locating substance use services and information which led to the development of the Substance use information campaign. In 2024, the regional group changed its identity to the NENC Regional Substance Misuse Collaborative. The Collaborative gathers once a quarter to focus on at least one topic of interest and to act as a peer network to share what each is doing and to ask questions of one another. Information sharing also occurs through e-mails, newsletters, and Facebook.