State grant will fund help for opioid crisis in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Local and state lawmakers joined together for a big announcement on the continuing fight against the opioid crisis in our area.

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo says after establishing the mayor’s Opioid Legislative Task Force two years ago, round table discussions were held to figure out how to aid in the community’s response to the crisis.

Today, he proudly announced a state grant that will fund a team of people focused on helping addicts after an overdose.

Buffy Taylor, a clinical addiction specialist, and leader of the new team says she’s hopeful this new program will make a difference.

“I think that, a lot of people after they overdose have been left out in the cold, and nobody’s gone to see them, see how they’re doing, and try to really connect to them to get them into treatment and they continue using and we think that we can be a barrier to that,” Taylor said.

Taylor says while nobody can force an addict to get treatment, she hopes educating them and getting their loved ones involved in the discussion will help to make a difference.