Figure 2. Total number of charges* per district from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021 plotted against total number of overdose deaths per district in that same time period and against the number of full time assistant district attorneys per district.**.
*inclusive of second-degree murder by drug distribution (defined under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-17(b)(2)), death by distribution (defined under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-18.4), and aggravated death by distribution (defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-18.4)
**number of assistant district attorneys per district is set by statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-60).
