Report on the “Unshame North Carolina” Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: State-Led Campaign to Address Opioid Crisis

The state of North Carolina has launched a new public health initiative, “Unshame North Carolina,” aimed at addressing the substance abuse crisis. Led by First Lady Anna Stein in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the campaign’s primary objective is to dismantle the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and improve access to treatment, directly contributing to key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Initiative: Unshame North Carolina (UnshameNC.org)
• Objective: To reduce stigma, provide resources, and encourage individuals with opioid addiction to seek evidence-based treatment.
• Methodology: The campaign utilizes a digital platform featuring testimonials from North Carolinians in recovery and provides resources for finding quality care.

Statistical Context and Barriers to Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

Recent statewide data highlights significant barriers to achieving good health and well-being for individuals affected by the opioid crisis. These challenges underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions that align with SDG 3.

1. Widespread Impact: Over half of North Carolina residents know someone with an opioid use disorder, indicating the broad societal scope of the issue.
2. Information Gap: Only one-third of residents are aware of how to find quality treatment, representing a critical barrier to accessing essential health services.
3. Stigma as a Determinant of Health: A major challenge is the public perception of the disorder, with only one in five North Carolinians recognizing it as a treatable medical condition. This stigma prevents individuals from seeking help, directly impeding progress on health-related SDGs.

Direct Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

The Unshame NC campaign is a targeted effort that strongly supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a particular focus on health, equality, and partnerships.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The initiative’s core mission is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being.

  • Target 3.5: It directly addresses the goal to “strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse” by creating clear pathways to recovery services.
  • Target 3.4: By promoting mental health and treating substance use disorder, the campaign contributes to reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  By combating stigma, the campaign works to reduce the inequalities faced by individuals with substance use disorder, ensuring they are not marginalized and have equal opportunity to access healthcare and reintegrate into society.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  This initiative exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership. The collaboration between the North Carolina state government (NCDHHS) and a national non-profit organization (Shatterproof) is a model for achieving public health goals through collective action.

Strategic Implementation and Outlook

The campaign’s strategy, developed by NCDHHS in partnership with Shatterproof, combines personal narratives with a systemic effort to improve healthcare access. According to Kelly Crosbie, NCDHHS director, this pairing of storytelling with increased access to medications for opioid use disorder is designed to demonstrate that “recovery is real.” This approach is fundamental to creating a supportive environment where more individuals can benefit from evidence-based care, thereby advancing the universal health coverage targets within the Sustainable Development Goals.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly addresses public health, focusing on substance abuse, mental health, and access to treatment. The entire “Unshame North Carolina” campaign is designed to improve health outcomes for individuals with opioid use disorder by tackling stigma and connecting them to care, which is the central mission of SDG 3.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The initiative described is a collaborative effort. The article mentions the involvement of North Carolina’s first lady, the state Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), and Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization. This multi-stakeholder partnership is a key principle of SDG 17, which emphasizes collaboration to achieve sustainable development objectives.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

   This target is the most relevant. The article’s core subject is the “Unshame North Carolina” campaign, which aims to “encourage more people to seek treatment for opioid addiction.” It explicitly mentions a “statewide effort to increase access to medications for opioid use disorder” and helping people “benefit from evidence-based care,” directly aligning with strengthening substance abuse treatment.

2. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

   The article highlights that “only one in five North Carolinians surveyed recognized that opioid use disorder is a medical condition.” By framing addiction as a treatable medical condition and not a moral failing, the campaign promotes mental health and well-being. Treating substance use disorder is crucial for preventing premature mortality associated with it.

3. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

   The campaign’s goal is to help people “find quality treatment” and “increase access to medications for opioid use disorder.” The article notes that only “about one-third know how to find quality treatment,” indicating a gap in access to essential health-care services, which this initiative aims to close.

4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

   The article provides a clear example of this target in action. The partnership involves a public figure (First Lady Anna Stein), a public institution (NCDHHS), and a civil society organization (the nonprofit Shatterproof) working together to “develop and implement the Unshame NC campaign.”

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Official Indicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders.

  This indicator is strongly implied. The article states a goal to “encourage more people to seek treatment” and “increase access to medications for opioid use disorder.” Progress can be measured by tracking the increase in the number of people in North Carolina receiving evidence-based care and treatment for substance use disorders.

• Implied Indicator: Public perception and knowledge about substance use disorder.

  The article provides baseline data from a statewide survey that can be used as indicators to track progress. These include:

  • The percentage of residents who recognize that opioid use disorder is a medical condition (currently “one in five”).
  • The percentage of residents who know how to find quality treatment for themselves or loved ones (currently “about one-third”).

  An increase in these percentages would indicate the campaign’s success in reducing stigma and misinformation.

• Implied Indicator: Existence of multi-stakeholder partnerships.

  The collaboration itself between NCDHHS and Shatterproof, as described in the article, serves as a qualitative indicator for Target 17.17. The successful implementation and continuation of this partnership is a measure of progress.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wral.com