Join us for part 3 of our webinar series: A Community Conversation on MOUD. Register here.

to end stigma

Together

53% of North Carolina adults know someone with a substance use disorder.

Our friends, family, and loved ones with substance use disorder (SUD) are experiencing shame that keeps them from seeking help. By raising the voices of those impacted by SUD, Unshame North Carolina is breaking down barriers and growing a community that supports one another.

Together, we can create a more compassionate North Carolina. Join us in redefining how we support people with SUD.

“Education is our strongest ally against the war on stigma.

We have to be more aware of what the issues are.”

- Philip | Asheville, NC

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Latest Stories

Irene Knows She Is Worth the Work

Irene knows that she has people she can turn to who will always offer her the help that she needs.

Dr. Eric Morse Says These Medications Are Proven to Save Lives

Dr. Eric Morse has seen many people use medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to reach their recovery goals.

Suzanne Knows the Power of Family Support

Suzanne understands how isolating it can feel to be the parent of a child with an SUD, and so she wants other parents to know they are not alone.

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Today is National Best Friends Day! It’s a time to celebrate the people who mean the most to us. For many in recovery, best friends are the ones who offered support when it was needed most. If someone you care about is dealing with a substance use, try to be a safe place for them to turn to. Let them know you’re always there to help. Sometimes, that support can make all the difference. Friendship is one of life’s greatest gifts, so don’t forget to tell your best friend today how much you love and appreciate them 🫂🫶🏻💌.

#BestFriendsDay

You can make a difference. 💛 Comment “CARRY” if you’d like to learn how you can get naloxone.

Being prepared is one way to show up for your community with compassion and care.

For Irene, having a community of people who have offered sustained support in her recovery has made a big difference. Irene is a member of the Arise Collective, a non-profit in Raleigh that provides support services to women, both while incarcerated and during their reentry into communities. Knowing that she has people she can turn to who will always offer her the help that she needs has helped Irene maintain her recovery from her substance use disorder.

Recovery is real, and healing is possible ❤️‍🩹. Demitrius shows us that when we see substance use disorder as a medical condition, not a moral failing, we open the door to real change. This shift helps families, communities, and individuals find the hope and support that may make the difference.

@r3c0v3ryg33k

Dr. Eric Morse notes that the World Health Organization (WHO), the FDA, and the ASAM treatment guidelines all agree: medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are the gold standard for treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. He and his team at Morse Clinics across North Carolina are available to explain MOUD to anyone interested in learning more or seeing how it could help them or their loved ones.

If you are looking for an MOUD treatment provider near you, visit nctreatmentconnection.com

Dr. Eric Morse founded the Morse Clinics, which provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to patients. Through his work, he has seen many people use these treatments to reach their recovery goals. He hopes that as more mobile treatment units become available in North Carolina, even more people will be able to access these life-saving medications.

If you are looking for access to MOUD in your area, visit nctreatmentconnection.com to locate a provider near you.

We’re excited to share new resources with our North Carolina community! 🌟

We believe everyone deserves support and empathy. That’s why we’re excited to launch two new toolkits on our website to help our North Carolina community in the practice of story sharing. "Unshame The Narrative" is about sharing stories with compassion, without stigma. "Promoting Dignity & Recovery Online" offers practical tips for using social media to lift others up and spread kindness.

Visit UnshameNC.org/resources (in bio) to take a look at these toolkits and more!

Edris is dedicated to making sure everyone in his community knows about the support and resources available to them. He understands that people living with a substance use disorder (SUD) have historically felt sidelined, and therefore, he wants everyone to know that things are changing. Today, there are more support networks than ever, and no one has to face recovery alone. 🌼

To learn more about what we do and the resources we offer for people pursuing recovery, visit unshamenc.org/resources.

@escissorsman

Suzanne understands how isolating it can feel to be the parent of a child with a substance use disorder, and so she wants other parents to know they are not alone. Suzanne hopes to be a source of support to families facing similar situations. She encourages parents to give themselves grace in difficult moments, and to know that it is possible to rebuild relationships with their children. Most of all, Suzanne wants everyone to remember that there is always a caring community ready to help 👥🤝.

Suzanne and her daughter Jacqueline have grown much closer since Jacqueline has pursued her recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Suzanne feels so lucky to have their relationship restored, and is so proud of the work Jacqueline has put in to become a peer support specialist. "I get to see her use her experience to help other people," Suzanne says with pride. Jacqueline inspires Suzanne every day, and she is deeply grateful for their renewed bond. 🌷🫂

As a professional in the substance use disorder (SUD) field herself, Suzanne recognized that her daughter Jacqueline needed treatment, but understood she had to wait until Jacqueline was ready. The most effective support we can offer loved ones with an SUD is to ensure they know we are there for them and to encourage recovery when they are ready to take that step 🫶.

If you're looking for support for yourself or someone you love, check out samhsa.gov/find-support.

Congrats, grads! 🎓💙

Today is Graduation Tassel Day, and we’re proud to celebrate members of our North Carolina recovery community who have continued their education and are thriving today. Their journeys remind us that we can achieve our goals, and that giving back and sharing what we’ve learned through our own education is such a valuable step in the healing process.

Kristan is passionate about expanding availability for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) because she knows firsthand how much it changed her life. MOUD helped to give her hope for her own future. Today, Kristan encourages others to view substance use disorder (SUD) the way they would any other health condition and believes everyone deserves support and access to the tools they need to help their healing proccess.

To learn more about MOUD treatment options, visit: nctreatmentconnection.com

Sometimes, having someone by your side who understands what you’re going through can make all the difference. Lexie wants to be that person for as many people in his community as he can, so they know they’re not alone in their recovery.

Join us on Wednesday, May 20th, for the third installment of our Learning Together webinar series! We'll have diverse voices and perspectives coming together to talk openly about medications for opioid use disorder, also known as MOUD. We hope to find paths forward that help reduce stigmas around MOUD and improve access throughout North Carolina!

To register for this webinar, visit: bit.ly/UnshameNCMayWebinar

Reverend Dr. Clay encourages his fellow faith leaders to open their doors to people living with substance use disorder (SUD). By connecting with local treatment centers and educating themselves about SUD, these leaders can help build communities where everyone feels seen, supported, and valued ✝️❤️.

A mobile unit sits in Reverend Dr. Clay's church parking lot, and offers support services to people with substance use disorder (SUD). When he found out that other churches and medical facilities had turned the unit away, Reverend Dr. Clay rallied his congregation to support welcoming it to their community. He wanted people with SUD to know they would be safe and accepted at his church ✝️.

Reverend Dr. Clay first became involved in working in the church because he's passionate about how faith brings people together and supports the most vulnerable within our community. He knows that people with a substance use disorder (SUD) often need a place where they feel accepted, and he hopes his church can be that space ⛪.

Having a daughter in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD) has taught Suzanne how to best uplift and support people in vulnerable moments. She encourages other parents and family members in similar situations to reach out, connect with other families, and learn what has worked for them. Most importantly, showing up with consistent love and support is the most powerful way to be present for your children ❤️ 👪.

Buprenorphine and Naloxone, also called Suboxone, is a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) available in North Carolina. It comes as a dissolvable tablet and can be prescribed by a medical professional. This medication is usually used in outpatient care and can help people maintain their recovery.

To learn more about Buprenorphine and Naloxone or other types of MOUD, visit nctreatmentconnection.com to see what option might be right for you!

Addiction psychiatrist and Morse Clinic founder Dr. Eric Morse is a strong advocate for his patients. He wants to make sure that each individual has access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) no matter where they are or whatever their circumstances may be. He knows that MOUD is the gold standard for treatment and that it can save someone with a substance use disorder's life.

To learn more about MOUD and to see if it might be right for you, visit nctreatmentconnection.com

Dr. Eric Morse is an addiction psychiatrist and the founder of the Morse Clinics, offering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) throughout North Carolina. Listen as he explains what you need to know about the three main MOUD options: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.

To learn more about MOUD and find out which treatment option might work best for you, visit nctreatmentconnection.com

Freedom, family, and a life beyond what they imagined. These are just a few reasons our community shows up for people living with substance use disorder in NC. 💙

The Unshame NC campaign is rooted in real stories — the kind that remind us why removing stigma around SUD matters. Stigma shrinks when we speak.

What's your reason? Share below. 👇

Reverend Dr. Clay understands that substance use disorder can touch anyone, no matter their background or faith. That’s why he welcomes everyone with kindness and care, meeting each person exactly where they are. He believes every person deserves dignity and respect. His compassion and commitment are what make him such a cherished part of the Greensboro community ❤️.

Today, we're talking about Buprenorphine, one of the medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) available in North Carolina. Buprenorphine can be taken as a tablet or an injection. Learning about your options is an important step, and everyone deserves support in finding what works best for them.

To learn more about this and other MOUD options, visit nctreatmentconnection.com!

Kristan draws strength from remembering and honoring her mother's advocacy work. Growing up, Kristan saw both her parents live with HIV, and watched her mom work hard to fight stigma and support others. Today, Kristan is using her own story of her recovery to educate and uplift people in substance use disorder communities, hoping to create the same sense of understanding ❤️.

Kristan’s recovery journey has been supported by medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Today, she proudly shares her story and encourages others to consider MOUD for their own recovery. Alongside other supports, like talk therapy, MOUD has helped Kristan through challenging moments and has helped her move forward in her healing.

Through her recovery, Kristan now feels truly engaged in her life and takes pride in the milestones she's reached. Her loved ones have offered meaningful support, and she’s so thankful for the way that they show up for her and celebrate her achievements 🌟.

This week is National Volunteer Week ✨🙌 and to celebrate, we want to share Andrew’s story. He volunteers at the Hope Center, a recovery center for men in Maiden, NC. Andrew uses his own experiences to encourage and inspire the men he meets. Volunteering helps us connect with our communities and find a greater sense of purpose.

How are you celebrating National Volunteer Week? 🤔 💭

@andrew.lidman84

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