From Staff Reports 

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Buncombe County is ranked as the fifth-highest county in North Carolina for per-capita fentanyl-positive deaths, based on the data released by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the 12-month period leading into early 2026, “with data as of March 2026 reviewed for a year,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on June 16.

“So far this year, 28 people have died from overdoses within Asheville city limits,” News 13 noted.

 “Every day there’s a number of incidents of overdose,” Micheal Woods, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries executive director, told News 13.

The TV station added, “Woods says overdose calls have become a near-daily reality. He frequently sees emergency notifications such as ‘Person in cardiac arrest after drug overdose in Asheville’ come up on his phone.

“‘Without question, we have a problem here in Asheville,’ Woods said.”

Over the last three years, Buncombe County has ranked among the 10 highest counties in North Carolina for fentanyl-involved deaths — and state reporting indicates the county recently ranked as high as 7th.

Meanwhile, recent data from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shows the county’s rate now stands at 22.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, which is well above the statewide average of 12.5.

Despite historically high ranking percentiles, total fentanyl-positive fatalities and suspected overdoses in the county fell significantly between 2023 and 2024, though health officials maintain that local rates remain a major public health concern.

Detailed county-level figures and tracking metrics are published on the North Carolina Division of Public Health website and monitored by several local news media outlets.. 

News 13 stated, “A day after Asheville police confirmed a 23-year-old woman who had been reported missing was found dead from an apparent drug overdose inside a vacant public housing unit, sources confirmed additional overdose deaths at the same housing complex, with three total, including Rachael Tuck's suspected overdose.

On June 16, Asheville police confirmed Racheal Tuck, 23, who had been reported missing by family members earlier this month, died from an apparent overdose. Toxicology results are still pending and could take several months.

An incident report obtained by News 13 “shows family members reported her missing on June 4. 

“The Asheville Housing Authority confirmed Tuck was found in a vacant apartment at Pisgah View Apartments. 

“The Asheville Housing Authority reports issues of break-ins and drug use inside vacant units as staff try to address prior mismanagement of the complexes.”

News 13’s “Comment Bubble” appearing after its story included the following assertions:

• Justsayingdude — “I think the fine people of Asheville/Buncombe spend their days raging at D.C., and their nights ignoring the problems right in front of their faces.”

• LocalVoice — “Yeah, I don’t understand how, with news like this, so many people living in Asheville will argue that Asheville is a model city, Asheville is a perfect utopian city and Asheville is being expertly run by its governing body.” 

• TheOracle — “I did see a rather haggard vagrant having a very intense discussion with himself in the middle of the turning lane near AVL airport. He was flailing about and angrily shouting at imaginery figures — great first impression when leaving AVL via car.”  

 • JoePubliq — “Can’t say I am surprised. Putting millions more into ‘affordable housing,’ as well as attracting and supporting more homeless beggars, and open air drug markets and use... Don’t worry, you’ll be No. 1 in no time.” 

“Working class folks being taxed out of their homes to support the liberal agenda. 

“WorldAtlas got it wrong. FoxNews hit a bullseye... .”  

• JoePubliq — “Asheville and Buncombe County ‘leadership’ reading this…

“We’re gonna need a bigger tourism budget — and more murals.”

• ZooLivinWNC — “And don’t forget ‘Kumbaya’ and tree-huggers!!!!”

• Justsayingdude — “Don’t worry, Buncombe, you’ll be #1 soon enough. Just keep making it the best place in the state to sell and do drugs in.”