For tens of thousands of hours each year, people struggling with mental health and substance use problems fill UNC Health Blue Ridge’s emergency department. Now, Burke County is moving forward with plans for a 16-bed crisis center designed to ease that burden and provide an adequate alternative to the hospital and the jail.
On May 19, the Burke County Opioid Advisory Committee met at Western Piedmont Community College to present their first year of progress during the Burke County Annual Recovery Summit, inviting the community for a day full of presentations, breakout sessions, and future-forward brainstorming.
Burke County opened a request for bids on Monday, searching for architectural and engineering services to design and renovate the former NCWorks building at 720 E. Union St. in Morganton. Bids are due by May 18 at 2 p.m.
Burke County officials are planning to convert an $800,000 building at 720 E. Union Street into a 16-bed crisis and detox center using opioid settlement funds.
Dr. Katie Samuels returned to Burke County as the Opioid Settlement Coordinator in spring 2025, and among the many milestones passed, the county has negotiated a lower purchase price for naloxone kits provided free across the county, established a Post Overdose Response Team (PORT), created a safe space for recovery support, and propelled local partners into implementing opioid addiction treatment programs.
