IVP Branch: Poisoning Data
Deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visits due to poisoning, particularly medication and drug poisoning, have become a growing public health concern nationally and in North Carolina.
Historically, prescription opioids have been a major driver of this epidemic. However, illicit drugs are now contributing to this problem in increasing numbers. The majority of unintentional opioid overdose deaths now involve heroin or other synthetic narcotics (like fentanyl). The number of overdose deaths involving stimulants is also on the rise.
This webpage includes statewide summary data, a link to the state’s Opioid Action Plan Data Dashboard, monthly data updates, and county-level data. Please contact us with questions or data requests. Visit Poisoning Prevention and Unintentional Poisoning from Prescription Drugs for more information on preventing poisoning deaths in North Carolina.
N.C. Summary Data
- Updated 03/01/21: Core Overdose Data Slides November 2020 (PPTX, 8.52 MB)
- NC Overdose Data: Trends and Surveillance is a recorded presentation of core overdose data.
- Updated 02/24/20: The Medication and Drug Overdose Fact Sheet (PDF, 631 KB) provides a snapshot of prescription drug overdose deaths.
- Updated 08/21/20: The Opioid-involved Overdoses Fact Sheet provides information specific to the opioid epidemic.
N.C. Opioid Action Plan Data Dashboard - Updated Quarterly
- Data dashboard to track and monitor the N.C. Opioid Action Plan metrics; data available for the state and individual counties.
- North Carolina’s Opioid Action Plan
County Overdose Slide Sets - Updated 12/10/19
NC DETECT Overdose Surveillance Reports - Updated Monthly
Opioid Overdose ED Visits
- County Opioid Overdose Emergency Department Visit Reports (For counties with average monthly visits ≥ 5)
- Alamance (PDF, 135 KB)
- Buncombe (PDF, 137 KB)
- Burke (PDF, 134 KB)
- Cabarrus (PDF, 135 KB)
- Caldwell (PDF, 132 KB)
- Carteret (PDF, 134 KB)
- Catawba (PDF, 136 KB)
- Cleveland (PDF, 134 KB)
- Craven (PDF, 134 KB)
- Cumberland (PDF, 134 KB)
- Davidson (PDF, 135 KB)
- Durham (PDF, 135 KB)
- Forsyth (PDF, 134 KB)
- Gaston (PDF, 134 KB)
- Guilford (PDF, 134 KB)
- Harnett (PDF, 134 KB)
- Haywood (PDF, 134 KB)
- Henderson (PDF, 134 KB)
- Iredell (PDF, 134 KB)
- Johnston (PDF, 135 KB)
- Lee (PDF, 132 KB)
- Lincoln (PDF, 134 KB)
- Mecklenburg (PDF, 136 KB)
- (PDF, 134 KB)
- Nash (PDF, 134 KB)
- New Hanover (PDF, 133 KB)
- Onslow (PDF, 133 KB)
- (PDF, 132 KB)
- Pitt (PDF, 133 KB)
- Randolph (PDF, 133 KB)
- Richmond (PDF, 133 KB)
- Robeson (PDF, 133 KB)
- Rockingham (PDF, 133 KB)
- Rowan (PDF, 133 KB) >
- Stanly (PDF, 133 KB)
- Union (PDF, 135 KB)
- Vance (PDF, 133 KB)
- Wake (PDF, 136 KB)
- Wilson (PDF, 134 KB)
Overdose ED Visits Involving Medication or Drug with Potential for Dependency
- County Medication or Drug with Potential for Dependency Overdose ED Visit Reports (For counties with a drug category monthly average of ≥3 visits)
- Alamance (PDF, 255 KB)
- Buncombe (PDF, 255 KB)
- Burke (PDF, 254 KB)
- Cabarrus (PDF, 257 KB)
- Caldwell (PDF, 255 KB)
- Carteret (PDF, 254 KB)
- Catawba (PDF, 257 KB)
- Cleveland (PDF, 256 KB)
- Craven (PDF, 254 KB)
- Cumberland (PDF, 258 KB)
- Davidson (PDF, 257 KB)
- Durham (PDF, 258 KB)
- Forsyth (PDF, 257 KB)
- Gaston (PDF, 257 KB)
- Guilford (PDF, 258 KB)
- Harnett (PDF, 256 KB)
- Iredell (PDF, 255 KB)
- Lee (PDF, 255 KB)
- Mecklenburg (PDF, 258 KB)
- Nash (PDF, 255 KB)
- New Hanover (PDF, 256 KB)
- Onslow (PDF, 256 KB)
- Pitt (PDF, 256 KB)
- Randolph (PDF, 257 KB)
- Robeson (PDF, 258 KB)
- Rockingham (PDF, 257 KB)
- Rowan (PDF, 255 KB)
- Stanly (PDF, 254 KB)
- Surry (PDF, 255 KB)
- Union (PDF, 256 KB)
- Vance (PDF, 254 KB)
- Wake (PDF, 258 KB)
- Wayne (PDF, 256 KB)
- Wilson (PDF, 254 KB)
EMS Encounters for Suspected Opioid Overdose
County-Level Poisoning Data Tables
See the dashboard below for data on various types of poisoning at the county level. Please see the North Carolina Overdose Surveillance Definitions (PDF, 776 KB) table for a detailed description of case definitions for each type of poisoning. All tables contain the most recent 10 years of data. If additional years of data are needed, please send a request.
- To navigate the dashboard, use the filter boxes at the bottom of the tables.
- The Source box allows you to switch between deaths, hospitalizations, Emergency Department, and population data.
- The View by County box will show all drug categories statewide, or by county selected.
- The View by Drug will show one drug category for all counties. When viewing the tables by drug, make your desired choices in the Intent and Drug boxes. This will display all 100 counties and state data.
- Use the Page navigator box in the bottom right to flip through all pages of data.
- If you wish to view data for only one county, change the View by County or Drug box to county, make your selections in the Intent and County boxes, and make sure the Page navigator box is set to page 1.
- Tables can be downloaded using the download icon below right of the data table.
- Please contact us with any questions.
Last Modified: 03-01-2021