Overdose deaths among Black and Hispanic residents surge in Mecklenburg County
Overdose deaths have surged 200% among Black and Hispanic residents since 2019 in Mecklenburg County, according to public health data.
Why it matters: Although Mecklenburg County has noted progress in slowing the rate of overdose deaths among white residents, the opposite trend is occurring among Black and Hispanic residents.
Overdose deaths among white residents in Mecklenburg County increased just 14% in the same period.
"The opioid epidemic is still here," says Public Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington. "The epidemic is impacting every corner of our community."
The big picture: Historically, opioid overdose rates have been higher among non-Hispanic whites. However, the recent surge among minorities underscores how the rise of fentanyl is hitting all communities hard.
Mecklenburg County medical examiner Dr. Thomas Owens says many people who died had unknowingly taken fentanyl mixed with other street drugs, such as cocaine and illegally pressed pills.
By the numbers: 27.8% of 1,387 overdose deaths since 2019 in Mecklenburg County were attributed to fentanyl, according to the public health dashboard.
Zoom out: North Carolina saw one of the biggest drops in its fatal drug overdose rate in the country in 2024, Axios previously reported. The fatal overdose rate per 100,000 people fell by 19.4% between 2022 and 2023.
However, per CDC data, North Carolina still had 33.7 fatal drug overdoses per 100,000 people in 2023.
Zoom in: Zip code 28208 in the west Charlotte " crescent" accounted for 891 overdose-related emergency department visits — the most in the county.
What they're saying: Public Health officials are warning people not to share pills or take illicit drugs.
People should be aware of the signs of an overdose and obtain naloxone, or Narcan, especially if they or someone they know is struggling with addiction.
Residents can request free naloxone through the Mecklenburg County Public Health website.
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Kristina Petersen, an associate professor in the department of nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University, told ABC News there is a crisis of diet-related diseases in the U.S., which increase the risk of disability and reduces lifespan. However, she said there needs to be strong evidence of the benefits of restrictive policies if they are to be put in place. "In terms of limiting people's choices, it is important to consider all the different roles that food plays in someone's life, and so obviously we want people eating nutritious foods, but also we need to acknowledge that food is a source of enjoyment," Petersen said. "A lot of social situations revolve around food. So, when we're thinking about reducing people's access to given foods, we need to think about the consequences of that." One unintended consequence could be an eligible family not signing up for SNAP benefits because of the restrictions, she said. Even if a ban on buying candy and soda with SNAP benefits does occur, Petersen said she is not aware of any evidence that shows banning certain foods leads to healthier diets. She added that the nation's dietary guidelines are written to emphasize healthy foods like fruits and vegetable rather than telling people to avoid or restrict less healthy foods. "All foods can be consumed as part of a healthy dietary pattern. It's really just the amount and the frequency that determines whether that pattern is helpful overall or less helpful," Petersen said. "People can have small indulgences, but really, we're interested in what is their pattern over a period of time." Providing incentives for purchasing healthier foods may be more effective and still allow people to have choice, Petersen said. A 2018 study used a model simulation to study the effects of food incentives, disincentives or restrictions in SNAP. One of the simulations involving incentives for foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and plant-based oils found to have the most substantial health benefits and be the most cost-effective. "Things like fruits and vegetables, they do tend to be more expensive, so if you incentivize them by providing more benefits … that's making the dollar go further, and it's kind of making the economic piece of this a bit stronger," Petersen said. "A lot of this is framed around personal choice. Rather than restricting access to, how can we give people more access to healthy foods? I think that's going to have the greatest benefit here." ABC News' Youri Benadjaoud and Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report. RFK Jr. has promoted 'freedom of choice' while limiting vaccines, food originally appeared on
