© 2024 254 North Front Street, Suite 300, Wilmington, NC 28401 | 910.343.1640
News Classical 91.3 Wilmington 92.7 Wilmington 96.7 Southport
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

Wilmington Councilman Luke Waddell talks opioid epidemic, D.A.R.E, and plans for millions from settlement

The opioid epidemic has taken its toll on Wilmington and the country as a whole which is why manufacturers of drugs like OxyContin have faced lawsuits and shelled out billions of dollars in settlements. The City of Wilmington along with New Hanover County have partnered to find the best ways to utilize these funds and hopefully have a positive impact on fighting the ongoing crisis.

City Councilman Luke Waddell is the city’s lone member on the joint city-county board and, along with staff from both organizations, they’re taking a holistic approach to providing the most resources wherever possible.

Links:

Ben Schachtman is a journalist and editor with a focus on local government accountability. He began reporting for Port City Daily in the Wilmington area in 2016 and took over as managing editor there in 2018. He’s a graduate of Rutgers College and later received his MA from NYU and his PhD from SUNY-Stony Brook, both in English Literature. He loves spending time with his wife and playing rock'n'roll very loudly. You can reach him at BSchachtman@whqr.org and find him on Twitter @Ben_Schachtman.