Addiction Treatment Vulnerable to Disasters
The storm knocked out power, water and communications, exposing how quickly treatment access can collapse for people with opioid use disorder.
- In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene destroyed infrastructure across North Carolina, disrupting opioid addiction treatment access for residents including Toni Brewer.
- Treatment centers closed for days or weeks following the disaster, while strict government regulations on controlled substances restricted medication supply and individual pharmacies controlled patient access.
- After the storm, Brewer realized she had only three days of medication left, forcing her to drive to Asheville to seek care while local pharmacies remained closed.
- Physicians recently urged federal officials to adopt emergency measures, including allowing take-home medication and equipping rescue vehicles to prevent overdose deaths during disasters.
- Researchers emphasize that integrating addiction treatment into disaster planning is essential, as climate change increasingly threatens to exacerbate overdose risks and treatment interruptions in vulnerable regions.
14 Articles
14 Articles
The Billings Gazette
Addiction treatment vulnerable to natural disasters
A day after Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina in late September 2024, Toni Brewer had no power or water. The storm had strewn fallen trees across most roads, wiped out phone and internet communications, and put some neighborhoods…
Addiction treatment vulnerable to disasters
A day after Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina in late September 2024, Toni Brewer had no power or water. The storm had strewn fallen trees across most roads, wiped out phone and internet communications, and put some neighborhoods…
Beatrice Daily Sun
Access to addiction treatment vulnerable to natural disasters
A day after Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina in late September 2024, Toni Brewer had no power or water. The storm had strewn fallen trees across most roads, wiped out phone and internet communications, and put some neighborhoods…
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