On March 8, 2018, Andre L. Taylor wrote about the Guilford County Solution to the Opioid Problem program in the News & Record:
“Last year, the county saw more than 100 deaths related to opioids, according to Guilford County EMS. In another 700 instances, opioid overdoses were caught in time to be “reversed,” which is usually done by administering a drug called Narcan. Through February, there have been 173 opioid overdoses in Guilford County, with 12 opioid-related deaths.
“On Thursday, officials gathered in Greensboro to announce a possible local solution to the epidemic.
“Stakeholders involved with the Guilford County Solution to the Opioid Problem program introduced the initiative on the campus of UNC-Greensboro.
“The program, GCSTOP, focuses on following up with people who have overdosed on opioids and are looking for help. Addicts can call GCSTOP to arrange a meeting with someone who can walk them through the process to get treatment or counseling.
“Stephen Sills, one of the founders of GCSTOP, said the program is necessary in the fight against opioid addiction because it focuses on getting rid of the stigma that comes with being an addict and strengthens relationships with those who can help.
“‘In 2018, we want to reduce opioid-related deaths in Guilford County by 20 percent,’ said Sills, director of the Center for Housing and Community Studies at UNCG. ‘It’s an obtainable goal.'”