CORE North Carolina

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

CORE NC Program Managers Sharon Hunt and Leslie Locklear were honored to share information about the Frontline Skills Training they are leading in partnership with Robeson Community College and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Department at the Lumberton Rotary Club meeting.

Leslie also shared her personal story of losing both of her sons, Rian and Matt, to fatal opioid overdoses, bringing a powerful and personal meaning to the work she is doing. We are so proud of Sharon and Leslie for sharing their knowledge, experiences, and passion to help those on the front lines better serve our communities.

07/25/2026

https://www.robesonian.com/news/426175/core-partners-with-rcc-for-first-responder-training

LUMBERTON — Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), in partnership with Robeson Community College (RCC), the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and board-certified addiction medicine physicians, recently hosted Front Line Skills for Substance Abuse in the Community, an innovative eight-hour tr...

07/17/2026

Addiction is not solved by one program or one service. Lasting recovery requires treatment, harm reduction, recovery support, stable housing, and a community committed to walking alongside people every step of the way. Together, we can save lives and restore hope.

07/17/2026

CORE, Robeson Community College, and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office are proud to partner in delivering Frontline Skills for Substance Abuse in the Community, an evidence-informed training that equips law enforcement with practical tools to respond to substance use with empathy, effective communication, and community-centered solutions.

Together, we’re building stronger partnerships and healthier communities.

07/03/2026

ALERT: New Synthetic Drug Threat – Medetomidine

Medetomidine is a dangerous veterinary sedative that is not approved for human use. It has been found mixed with illegal opioids like fentanyl, which can increase the risk of overdose.

Why it matters:
● Can cause extreme sleepiness or unconsciousness
● Can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure
● May be mixed into drugs without the person knowing
● Naloxone can reverse fentanyl, but it does not reverse medetomidine

Signs of overdose:
● Hard to wake up
● Slow or stopped breathing
● Blue or gray lips or fingertips
● Very slow heart rate

What to do:
● Call 911 right away
● Give naloxone if an opioid overdose is suspected
● Stay with the person and give rescue breathing if you are trained

Drug supplies can change quickly. If you use drugs or know someone who does, never use alone, carry naloxone, and use fentanyl and mederomide test strips when available.

CORE North Carolina remains committed to reducing overdose deaths through education, harm reduction, and connection to care.

ARTICLE:

https://hoodline.com/2026/07/rowan-overdose-shock-er-visits-double-as-animal-sedative-hits-salisbury-streets/