Overdose deaths in North Carolina rose by 22% in 2021, to more than 4,000, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

"The 2021 statistics show this is more critical than ever, as 4,041 people in North Carolina lost their lives to overdose. This is the highest number of overdose deaths in a single year on record in the state," according to a press release released Tuesday.

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The state is working to improve the statistics by extending mobile crisis care, treatment programs and other behavioral services. In July, N.C. launched the 988 Suicide Hotline, where people can call or text 988 to reach trained crisis counselors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Since the launch, the call center reported an 85% increase in callers referencing substance abuse as their reason for calling. In 2021, there were nearly 17,000 emergency department visits related to drug overdoses.

Since 2019, before the pandemic, North Carolinians who identify as Black and African-American have seen the biggest increase in overdose death rates, an increast of 139% in those two years.

Overall overdose deaths are still highest among non-Hispanic white people, and American Indians and indigenous people have the largest share – with 94 deaths per 100,000 people.

More than 77% of the overdose deaths N.C. reported in 2021 were related to fentanyl, a highly-addictive pain reliever 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

In response, N.C. has distributed more than 719,000 units of naloxone, or Narcan, which reverses the effects of opioids, to agencies that treat overdose.

The FDA recently announced it is considering making naloxone available over-the-counter. The NCDHHS is also working to increase access to medication through mobile units.

The state implemented a Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan to connect people with resources to prevent addiction and track progress per local area, county, region and state.

According to the state, "Since launching this plan, the number of people receiving prescribed opioids has decreased by at least 36%. The number of people who don’t have insurance or have Medicaid receiving opioid use disorder treatment has increased by 48%."

In 2019, WRAL's Documentary Unit launched "Finding a Fix," an update on the progress made in N.C. since 2017 to combat opioid addiction crisis. The documentary revisits some of the stories of families who've lost loved ones to opioid overdose and the first responders and activists on the front lines of the epidemic.

Following the launch of "Finding a Fix," the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a surge in fentanyl use and opioid deaths. According to the state, overdose deaths increased 72% since 2019, with a 40% jump in 2020 during the first year of the pandemic.

Wake County will receive more than $35 million over the next 18 years as part of a National Opioid Settlement. Wake leaders said the funding must be used to address the fallout from the crisis and can be focused in four areas: Prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction.

“It’s really important we address the underlying causes that lead some people to a life of addiction because if we can, we can save more lives,” North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said.

The county already has approved strategic initiatives for the first $4 million, which will be distributed over the next two years.