Our Story

Orange Partnership is a home-grown community coalition of stakeholders, originating in 2008 from an initiative of Healthy Carolinians of Orange County, which identified underage drinking as a concern in Orange County. The past decade has seen tremendous growth in coalition membership and initiatives:

In 2011, the coalition was awarded the Drug Free Communities grant from SAMHSA ($625,000 over 5 years). This funding allowed the coalition to expand its efforts to address other issues of concern including the misuse of prescription drugs. Its priorities were to reduce youth use through education and reducing access to alcohol and prescription medications.

In 2012, there were no permanent medicine drop sites in Orange County. Through the DFC grant and in partnership with law enforcement agencies, the coalition supported the implementation of 3 of the first drop sites in Orange County. To date, Orange County has 9 permanent sites, including UNC Hospitals and local pharmacies.

In 2013, Orange Partnership local law enforcement partners, began to hold Operation Medicine Drop events at least 2 times per year. Orange Partnership also began promoting safe storage in the home; however, no lockable units were available for sale. The coalition procured lock boxes to promote its Lock it UP! campaign to provide community members. This campaign was picked up by NCDHHS and became the Lock Your Meds statewide initiative in 2015.

In 2016, Orange Partnership was awarded a 2nd DFC grant to continue its efforts, including the first “Hidden in Plain Sight” in Orange County for parents to learn how to recognize signs of substance misuse and mental health concerns.

In 2018, Orange Partnership piloted a program with Orange County Dental Clinic to promote patient education and safe storage of medications when prescribing

In 2018, Orange Partnership coalition members hosted the first Town Hall on the Opioid Crisis, Bringing it Home: A local look on the opioid crisis. Through this town hall, in collaboration with Commissioner Renee Price, UNC Hospitals and Orange County Health Department, the Orange County Taskforce was formed in 2019.

In 2020, the coalition voted to take the next steps to become an independent 501c3.

In 2021, Orange Partnership members collaborated to hold a Community Conversation on Preventing Underage and Excessive Drinking. This Community Conversation looked at a UNC study which showed the burden of underage and excessive drinking bourn by the Orange County of $111 million in 2017.