Rutherford County Fentanyl Deaths Drop Sharply While Statewide Crisis Continues

Fentanyl continues to claim thousands of lives across North Carolina, but new state data show Rutherford County is moving in the opposite direction.

The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) reported that fentanyl-positive deaths in Rutherford County fell from 36 in 2022 to 18 in 2024. So far this year, only eight deaths have been reported through June — a 43% decline compared to the same period in 2024.

Statewide, the picture is far more grim. More than 3,900 North Carolinians died in fentanyl-involved overdoses in 2023, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, and the powerful synthetic opioid continues to drive over 70% of overdose deaths.

Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg said the local numbers reflect the work of his deputies and the broader community. “It takes a dedicated team, working together, to achieve the success we’ve seen,” Ellenburg said Monday.

Sgt. Toney and Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg

The OCME report also shows most fentanyl deaths in Rutherford County are men, with adults between ages 25 and 44 the hardest hit — a trend consistent with the rest of the state.

Ellenburg, who faces Republican primary challengers in the 2026 sheriff’s race, will meet with residents on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Chick-fil-A in Forest City for “Coffee with a Cop.” Deputies will be on hand to answer questions and hear concerns from the community.