First, What are Opioids?
An opioid is a synthetic substance that has similar, but not related, effects of substances called opiates. The most common opioids are medications used to treat pain.
If you have ever had a medical procedure, you may have been prescribed a type of opioid for pain management.
You may recall some of the more common drug brand names – Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Percocet.
We’re here to help you understand opioids better, learn about their use and possible misuse or abuse and discuss alternatives to treat long-term pain.
We also want to share what we are doing to battle the epidemic.
What are Signs of Possible Addiction?
Possible signs or symptoms of opioid misuse or possible addiction include:1
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Using more of the prescribed drugs or using them longer than intended
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Using while doing something dangerous, such as driving
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Using despite physical or mental problems
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Using despite legal or social problems
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Can’t control or cut down use
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Spending lots of time finding drugs or recovering from use
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Skipping or cut down important activities
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Having a strong desire or urge to use
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Becoming tolerant – In other words, need more of the drug or need to take it more often
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Having withdrawals – The presence of physical symptoms when trying to stop
What to Ask Your Doctor Before Taking Opioids: A Checklist
Opioids can have some very serious side effects. Use this checklist provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ask your health care provider questions before taking opioids
How is Blue Cross NC Helping?
PREVENTION
Requiring providers to prescribe the safest options before progressing to stronger medications
Providing opioids risk screening / education
Participating in the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Payers’ Council to partner on pharmacy policies
Partnering with the NC Medical Board to promote greater education
INTERVENTION
Requiring prior authorization / quantity limits on all extended release opiates
Contacting providers with significantly higher rates of opioids prescribing
Monitoring for patients who “prescription shop” with multiple providers / pharmacies
Alerting prescribers of high risk
TREATMENT
Coverage of addiction treatment
Coverage of non-drug pain management therapies (e.g., physical therapy, chiropractic care, aquatic therapy, steroid joint injections)
Medication-assisted therapy coverage
Covered telehealth options for behavioral health and substance abuse
Network of substance abuse professionals and facilities
Medical policies/prior review to ensure appropriate treatment
24-hour phone line for members to discuss opioids usage and get help with addiction
What Can You Do to Help?
In response to the Opioid Crisis in our state, Blue Cross NC is working with pharmacies and health care industry leaders to install medication drop-off points in almost every county. Help us keep our communities safe. Learn more about how you can store your prescriptions or dispose of them safely.
- Don’t share your medication with family or friends.
- Keep your medication in a locked box or cabinet. You can return unused opioid medications at any law enforcement office in North Carolina.
- Drop off unused medications at any of our partner pharmacy locations listed below.
Walgreens Drop-Off Locations
EASTERN NC
Greenville
Henderson
Lumberton
New Bern
Rocky Mount
Wilmington
Wilson
CHARLOTTE AREA
CENTRAL NC
Apex
Asheboro
Durham
Fuquay Varina
High Point
Sanford
Winston Salem
WESTERN NC
Asheville
North Wilkesboro
What Do I Do If I Need Help?
Call: 1-800-662-4357
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Hotline
Blue Cross NC members, call the Mental Health number on the back of your ID card.
Find a Pain Management Provider
Log in to Blue Connect and use our Find a Doctor tool to search for the right provider for you.
Point of Blue Blog: Opioid Resources
Overview of the Epidemic
Blue Cross NC Policy Changes
Putting Talk Into Action
Drug Drop-Off Locations In the Triad NC
Locations are shown alphabetically by city.
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TOTAL CARE PHARMACY2479 S CHURCH STREETBURLINGTON27215
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PREMIER PHARMACY AND WELLNESS CENTER3010 MONROE RD SUITE 101CHARLOTTE28205
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PRICE PHARMACY422 N HWY 29CHINA GROVE28023
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MOOSE PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY270 COPPERFIELD BLVDCONCORD28025
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LAYNE'S FAMILY PHARMACY509 S VAN BUREN ROADEDEN27288
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BRIDGE STREET PHARMACY INC817 N BRIDGE STELKIN28621
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GATE CITY PHARMACY INC803-C FRIENDLY CENTER RDGREENSBORO27408
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MED CARE PHARMACY7892 IDLEWILD RDINDIAN TRAIL28079
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D REX DRUG450 WINSTON ROADJONESVILLE28642
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KEEVER PHARMACY102 DOCTOR'S PARKLINCOLNTON28092
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MOOSE PHARMACY OF LOCUST1750 WEST MAIN STLOCUST28097
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MCDOWELL FAMILY PHARMACY2668 US HWY 70WMARION28752
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MINT HILL PHARMACY7200 MATTHEWS-MINT HILL RDMINT HILL28227
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CAROLINA APOTHECARYS SCALES ST.RIEDSVILLE27320
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MEDICAL CENTER PHARMACY805 LONG DRROCKINGHAM28379
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BANNER DRUG3478 EAST BROAD STREETSTATESVILLE28625
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STOKESDALE FAMILY PHARMACY8500 US HWY 158STOKESDALE27357
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STANDARD DRUG522 ALLEN STREET SUITE 102TROY27371
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PARSON BIAS PHARMACY100 S GREENE STWADESBORO28170
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WALKERTOWN FAMILY PHARMACY2905 DARROW RDWALKERTOWN27051
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SOUTHSIDE DISCOUNT PHARMACY3085 WAUGHTOWN STREETWINSTON SALEM27107
Drug Drop-Off Locations In the Triangle
Locations are shown alphabetically by city.
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ABERDEEN PRESCRIPTION SHOPPE1389 N SANDHILLS BLVDABERDEEN28315
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CORNER DRUG STORE23 NC 98 HWY E SUITE 100BUNN27508
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SEASHORE DRUGS10227 BEACH DRIVE SWCALABASH28467
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CARRBORO FAMILY PHARMACY104 NC 54 SUITE JCARRBORO27510
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ASHWORTH REXALL DRUGS105 WEST CHATHAM STCARY27511
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CLARKTON DRUG80 E GREEN STCLARKTON28433
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MATTHEWS DRUGS408 N E BLVDCLINTON28328
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CREEDMOOR DRUG COMPANY108 NORTH MAIN STCREEDMOOR27522
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CENTRAL PHARMACY2609 N DUKE ST SUITE 103DURHAM27704
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TRIANGLE PHARMACY INC1700 EAST HIGHWAY 54DURHAM27713
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FAISON PHARMACY206 SW CENTER STFAISON28341
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MASSEY HILL DRUG NEW1072 SOUTHERN AVEFAYETTEVILLE28306
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JOHNSON DRUG HAMPSTEAD7230 US HWY 17N SUITE 222HAMPSTEAD28443
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MAST DRUG HENDERSON501 CHESTNUT ST SHENDERSON27536
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MEDICAL VILLAGE PHARMCY517 LAUCHWOOD DRLAURINBURG28352
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MEDICAL VILLAGE PHARMCY517 LAUCHWOOD DRLAURINBURG28352
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HOGAN'S PHARMACY INC815 WEST FRONT STREETLILLINGTON27546
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PEMBROKE DRUG205 W THIRD STREETPEMBROKE28372
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ROCKFISH PHY221 FLAGSTONE LANERAEFORD29376
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HAYES BARTON PHARMACY2000 FAIRVIEW RDRALEIGH27608
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COLE'S PHARMACY117 NORTH MAIN STROXBORO27573
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MEDICINE PARK PHARMACY100 PARK AVESANFORD27330
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MEDICINE PARK PHARMACY100 PARK AVESANFORD27330
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SILER CITY PHARMACY202 EAST RALEIGH STREETSILER CITY27344
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REALO DISCOUNT DRUG STORES OF JOHNSTON CO601 N 8TH ST SUITE DSMITHFIELD27577
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WAKE FOREST DRUG3113 ROGERS RDWAKE FOREST27587
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FUTRELL PHARMACY OF WARRENTON108 S MAIN ST STE BWARRENTON27589
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BALDWIN WOODS PHARMACY607 JEFFERSON STWHITEVILLE28472
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WINTER PARK DISCOUNT DRUG5220 WRIGHTSVILLE AVENUEWILMINGTON28403
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SEASHORE DRUGS2059 CAROLINA BEACH ROADWILMINGTON28401
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ZEBULON DRUG303 N ARENDELL AVEZEBULON27597
Drug Drop-Off Locations Eastern NC
Locations are shown alphabetically by city.
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BAILEY PHARMACY6311 DEANS STREETBAILEY27807
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BAYBORO PHARMACY702 MAIN STREETBAYBORO28515
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BETHEL PHARMACY7433 MAIN ST.BETHEL27812
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TODD'S PHARMACY OF CAMDEN, INC100 PLANK BRIDGE RD SUITE ACAMDEN27921
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O'NEAL'S DRUG STORE633 HWY 33 EASTCHOCOWINITY27817
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BLOUNT'S MUTUAL DRUGS323 SOUTH BROAD STEDENTON27932
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TARHEEL ELIZABETH CI902 ROANOKE AVENUEELIZABETH CITY27909
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SOUTHEAST FAMILY PHARMACY223 NC HWY 111 SOUTHGOLDSBORO27534
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FAMILY CARE PHARMACY606 SOUTH CHURCH STREETHERTFORD27944
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FUTRELL PHARMACY SERVICES119 WEST JEFFERSON STJACKSON27845
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JOHNSON DRUG COMPANY714 NEW BRIDGE STREETJACKSONVILLE28540
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FUTRELL PHARMACY OF LITTLETON123 EAST SOUTH MAIN STLITTLETON27850
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MEDICAL PARK PHARMACY278 HIGHWAY 24 SUITE MMOREHEAD CITY28557
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TODD'S PHARMACY OF CURRITUCK532A CARATOKE HWYMOYOCK27958
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MCCARTHY SQUARE PHARMACY609 MCCARTHY BLVDNEW BERN28562
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MCCARTHY SQUARE PHARMACY609 MCCARTHY BLVDNEW BERN28562
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REALO DISCOUNT DRUGS OF PINK HILL107 WEST BROADWAY STREETPINK HILL28572
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WOMBLE DRUG COMPANY454 US HWY 64 EASTPLYMOUTH27962
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BRYAN DRUGS112 HOSPITAL DRIVETARBORO27886
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PILL CADDY155 W JONES STTRENTON28585
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WILSON VALUE DRUG STORE404 NASH STREET EASTWILSON27893
Drug Drop-Off Locations Western NC
Locations are shown alphabetically by city.
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ARCHDALE DRUG11220 N MAIN STREETARCHDALE27263
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ASHEVILLE DISCOUNT PHARMACY76 PATTON AVENUEASHEVILLE28801
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SUNSHINE PHARMACY206 E STATE STREET SUITE 1BLACK MOUNTAIN28711
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HEALTHRIDGE PHARMACY3130 US 70 HWYBLACK MOUNTAIN28711
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GORDON FAMILY PHARMACY518 SOUTH BROAD STBREVARD28712
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THE PRESCRIPTION PAD OF BURNSVILLE730 EAST MAIN STBURNSVILLE28714
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FOOTHILLS PHARMACY80 SHUFORD RDCOLUMBUS28722
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SMART PHARMACY10 W PALMER STFRANKLIN28734
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AKERS PHARMACY1595 E GARRISON BLVDGASTONIA28054
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SHELTON PHARMACY2315 ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY SUITE 50HENDERSONVILLE28791
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HIGHLANDS PHARMACY195 MAIN ST.HIGHLAND28741
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MOUNTAINMED74 NORTH GARDEN STREETMARION28752
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PREMIER PHARMACY INC107 ESTATOA AVENEWLAND28657
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TOWN & COUNTRY DRUG53 EAST MAIN AVENUETAYLORSVILLE28681
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PEOPLES DRUG423 EAST 2ND STREET HWY 221WEST JEFFERSON28694
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