ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County continues to rank among North Carolina’s hardest-hit areas for fentanyl-related deaths, and Asheville police say community members remain a key part of efforts to identify drug activity — as long as tips include enough detail to be actionable.
According to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Buncombe County ranks fifth in the state for fentanyl-positive deaths per 100,000 residents, based on data from April 2025 through March 2026. The report, updated in June 2026, shows the county has continued to climb state rankings, after previously ranking seventh for year-over-year fentanyl overdose deaths per capita.
As overdose deaths continue to drive public safety concerns, the Asheville Police Department said they rely heavily on community reports to identify suspected drug activity — but not all tips are equally useful…