RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina will unveil its first Mobile Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) unit next week, marking a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to expand access to addiction treatment services. The mobile unit represents a new approach to reducing barriers that prevent individuals from accessing opioid use disorder treatment.

Breaking Down Treatment Barriers

The mobile OTP is designed to make it easier for those seeking treatment to begin and maintain their recovery journey by bringing services directly to communities. The unit is sponsored by Morse Clinics, which operates opioid treatment programs throughout North Carolina and provides Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and counseling services.

Morse Clinics currently serves 14 counties across the state, including Wake, Chatham, Johnston, Halifax, Granville, Franklin, Warren, Northampton, Person, Orange, Randolph, Vance, Harnett, and Durham counties.

High-Profile Launch Event

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and First Lady Anna Stein will participate in the celebration, underscoring the state’s commitment to reducing stigma and increasing access to medical care for substance use disorders.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 10 a.m.
• Location: Healing Transitions, 1251 Goode St., Raleigh, NC 27603
• Attendees: First Lady Anna Stein, NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai, Kelly Crosbie (Director of NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services), Dr. Eric Morse (CMO of Morse Clinics), and a Peer Support Specialist from Healing Transitions

Growing Demand for Treatment

Data indicates a 25% increase in the number of people entering OTP programs over the past five years, demonstrating growing demand for treatment services. This trend highlights the importance of expanding access through innovative delivery methods like mobile units.

Regulatory Framework and Approval Process

The mobile OTP has navigated a comprehensive regulatory approval process. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, through its State Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA), provides preliminary approval to entities seeking state licensure for OTP locations, including mobile units. This approval enables programs to begin the combined state and federal application process.

Once SOTA determines that an applicant has completed all necessary requirements for state licensure, the approval is forwarded to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which issues federal certification. All OTP programs must obtain both state licensure and federal certification before they can begin treating patients.

Expansion Plans on the Horizon

The launch of this first mobile unit is just the beginning of a broader expansion effort. As many as 10 additional mobile OTPs may be operational by the end of 2025. Six of these units will be funded through $3.75 million that NCDHHS received following Hurricane Helene, with funding provided to Vaya Health, the Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization serving western and central North Carolina counties.

Media Access

Following the speakers’ remarks at the launch event, a media question-and-answer session and tour of the mobile unit will be available for credentialed media representatives.

The mobile OTP initiative represents North Carolina’s continued commitment to addressing the opioid crisis through innovative, accessible treatment solutions that meet people where they are in their communities.