The speakers who took the podium afterward gave promise the sentence was true.

The summit comes at a time when there have been 54 overdose calls since the beginning of the year, 40 dispatched in the Roanoke Rapids coverage area of Halifax County EMS, Hasty said.

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There have been 100 suicide calls since the beginning of the year with three confirmed deaths — 79 of them in the Roanoke Rapids coverage area.

There is help, said Gina Dement of Cardinal Innovations, which maintains a 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-939-5911. “It's for anybody,” she said. “If you are in crisis you will call that number and they will refer you to the proper person.”

John Mack, also of Cardinal, told the audience, recovery is the key and those who have been through it, “Talk about it like it was a magical experience and say they have felt normal for the first time in their life. Each step gets better and better.”

He cautioned, however, “Recovery doesn't come on your schedule, it comes on its schedule. It shows you can look in the mirror and not feel ashamed of yourself.”

Rhonda Rigsby runs Well of Life, a Christian counseling ministry in Roanoke Rapids. “We don't want you to feel a Christian ministry is a replacement. It takes a community effort. It's a matter of who you click with.”

Rigsby said people have a tendency to put labels on others. “We've got a lot of people with drug addiction. They're just people who need support. We help meet you where you are.”

There is no one reason behind addiction, she said. It ranges from biological rewards to rebellion. “They may be rebelling against God. They may be trying to hurt family or have been hurt by family members. There are people with addictive personalities. We have to show we care.”

Beth Edwards of Edwards Assessments in Roanoke Rapids said, “Right now is critical. I've never seen things as bad as they are. You have to help with this. Everybody ought to be concerned.”

There are NA and AA meetings in Roanoke Rapids, she said. “You can do this, but you can't do it alone. You're not in recovery unless you're living the 12 steps.”

Hasty speaks to the audience.

Florence Ikechukwa of Spring Life in Roanoke Rapids said, “It seems like the problem is increasing on a daily basis.”

But, she added, “There's hope. Things are progressing. We've been able to see tremendous progress.”

Ikechukwa said part of the problem is lack of jobs in the community and lack of something to do. “We want to see progress.”

On the front lines has been the use of Narcan and Project Lazarus, said Phil Ricks, emergency services director for Halifax County.

EMS has seen the results firsthand, he said, the Narcan blocking the effects of opiates. Within two minutes, one person receiving chest compressions was up and talking. The Weldon and Roanoke Rapids fire departments carry it and the Roanoke Valley Rescue has always carried it, Ricks said.

In an evening where second chances were being discussed, Ricks said use of Narcan does just that. “This is all about giving second chances.”

One recovering addict told the audience, “I've overdosed numerous times. Addicts don't know how to say just say no. I have a thorn in my side but God's grace is sufficient for me. We do recover and there is hope.”

He said it is important for parents to pick up the phone and call the police “and say your son is a junkie. It may save their life. It takes progress to learn a new way of life.”