Local government representatives from across the United States filled the Harnett County Resource Center and Library training room in August to learn about the substance abuse disorder efforts taking place in Harnett County during the Reaching Rural two-day site visit.

The site visit was an opportunity for Fellows from the 2024 cohort to learn from the experiences of the Harnett County Opioid Task Force. As they have built a cross-sector network that is actively working to address substance use disorder in the community, the objective was to teach participants about the collaborative efforts that have taken place since the Opioid Task Force was formed in 2022.

“It was an honor to be chosen to host a workshop for the Reaching Rural fellows across the nation,” said Coley Price, Harnett County Deputy Manager. “The knowledge, experiences, and resources offered by our coaches and participants in the initiative assisted in the development of our strategic plan and sustainable efforts to help combat the opioid epidemic in Harnett County.”

The formation of the task force, its strategic plan, and its programming were influenced by the Reaching Rural Initiative, which provides customized coaching from experts across the nation, skill-building workshops, and learning experiences for fellows to enhance their efforts to address the opioid epidemic in their local community. Harnett County was chosen as one of eight participants across the country in the inaugural cohort of Reaching Rural, which took place from December 2022 to December 2023. Read previous story here.

John Nugent, Managing Director of Beacon Community Connections in Lafayette, Louisiana, attended the site visit and was struck by Harnett County’s Opioid Task Forces intentional approach to problem-solving.

“They’ve embraced the idea that having the right people at the table, at the right time, is essential for driving real change. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to asking the right questions rather than rushing to quick fixes. They understand that the issues they’re addressing aren’t just surface level but deeply rooted in the fabric of their community. The team’s ability to strategically leverage their resources, while maintaining a focus on long-term solutions, reflects the wisdom and dedication that this kind of work demands. You can see that the words, 'Reaching Rural is an opportunity for us to calibrate our collaboration,' aren’t just a motto—they are lived out in every action the team takes,” said Nugent. 

Jason Bitzer, District Court Judge from Tuscola County, Michigan also attended the site visit and was impressed by the work of Harnett County’s Opioid Task Force.

“I was moved and inspired by the collective commitment that Harnett had to addressing the critical drug problem in small communities. It was obvious that every sector in Harnett County that deals with individuals suffering from this problem are unified in their mission to serve and help people, from County Administration, to Prosecutors, Public Health Officials, and School Officials. And not just because it is their job; all of these individuals are exceeding their standard job roles and obligations and working tirelessly to lay the groundwork for future generations of Harnett County citizens to be benefitted by their work.  The message I took away from the visit is this: There is power in unity. I have taken that message back to my home County and hope that in the future we can start to emulate the strides Harnett County has made,” said Bitzer.

Since the formation of Harnett County’s Opioid Task Force, members continue to take significant steps to address the growing challenges of substance use disorder in the community. Over an 18-year period, Harnett County will receive more than $11,000,000 from the State of North Carolina to support these efforts.

The Opioid Task Force three executive committees (Education & Prevention, Treatment & Recovery, and Harm Reduction) have accomplished the following:

• Began Narcan distribution at the Health Department.
• Hosted various informational presentations, Narcan trainings, and other education opportunities to the community.
• Community Paramedicine program continues to expand to support individuals navigating substance use disorder.
• Provided Narcan in Harnett County Schools.
• Launched Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program in the jail.
• Launched the Opioid Task Force website.
  • For more details and a full list, visit: https://solveharnett.org/