State of North Carolina

09/15/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/15/2025 10:11

'Responding to the Opioid and Substance Use Crisis in North Carolina's Rural Coastal Communities' Conference

Monday, September 15, 2025

"Responding to the Opioid and Substance Use Crisis in North Carolina's Rural Coastal Communities" Conference

MEDIA ADVISORY - Credentialed media are invited to attend the "Responding to the Opioid and Substance Use Crisis in North Carolina's Rural Coastal Communities" conference on September 19, 2025, in Morehead City. Kelly Crosbie, Director of the Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Use Services at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, will deliver the keynote address on how opioid use impacts rural coastal communities.
Morehead City
Sep 15, 2025

Credentialed media are invited to attend the "Responding to the Opioid and Substance Use Crisis in North Carolina's Rural Coastal Communities" conference on September 19, 2025, in Morehead City. Kelly Crosbie, Director of the Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Use Services at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, will deliver the keynote address on how opioid use impacts rural coastal communities.

The conference aims to bring together local decision-makers, peer support specialists and policy makers to discuss the unique challenges the opioid crisis presents to coastal communities.

Coastal communities often have limited access to care and treatment resources as well as facing social stigma surrounding opioid use. These present daily challenges to those seeking treatment.

This conference is jointly provided by Hope Mission of Coastal Carolina and Eastern AHEC. Additionally, NCDHHS staff will participate in an afternoon breakout session, "The Synergy Between Providers and Policy Leaders: Best Practices and Promising Strategies."

WHAT: Keynote address at Conference on Opioid Epidemic in Rural Coastal Communities

WHO: Kelly Crosbie, Director, Division on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, NCDHHS
Maggie Sauer, Director, Office of Rural Health, NCDHHS
DeDe Severino, Assistant Director, Addictions and Management Operations Team, NCDHHS

WHEN: Sept. 19, 2025,
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Keynote Address: 9:30 -10 a.m.
"The Synergy Between Providers and Policy Leaders: Best Practices and Promising Strategies" Panel: 1-2 p.m.

WHERE: The Elizabeth and Doug Townsend Event Hall & Grand Foyer and Bill and Beth Henderson Gallery, Carteret Community College Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center Facility,
3505 Arendell Street,
Morehead City, NC 28557

MEDIA: Credentialed media who are interested in attending and speaking with Director Crosbie should rsvp to [email protected]

Related Topics:

  • Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services
  • Office of Rural Health
State of North Carolina published this content on September 15, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 15, 2025 at 16:12 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]