Ashley Barber, Coordinator of Health Services, provided an update on the opioid settlement funds. She continued that since the last update meeting on March 20, 2023, the anticipated amount the county was expected to receive had increased from $8,874,733 to $16,105,082. As of November 30th, the county had received $1,813,736 in settlement payments. She said they were expected to receive $1,589,025 by the end of this fiscal year and that payment amounts would decline over the next 16 years.
Ms. Barber covered some of the Exhibit A Strategies or high-impact opioid abatement strategies, including collaborative strategic planning, evidence-based addiction treatment, recovery support services, employment-related services, early intervention, and several other strategies. She discussed Exhibit B Strategies or additional opioid remediation activities, which included: treatment of opioid disorder, treatment and recovery, supporting criminal-justice-involved persons, appropriate opioid prescribing and dispensing, and preventing the misuse of opioids.
She continued that the Health Department was wrapping up the planning and assessment phase which involved collecting data and feedback from community stakeholders, municipalities, and individuals in recovery. Local municipalities were invited to that meeting to provide feedback and encourage collaboration to satisfy the annual meeting requirements. Ms. Barber asked Vice-Chair Carter to open the floor to anyone who wished to provide comments after her presentation.
Ms. Barber concluded her presentation and stated that she would like to come back for the March 18, 2024, meeting to discuss their needs and assets to help them understand what they already had and what the needs were.
Commissioner Thompson said this was long overdue, and the longer they waited to get something going, the more people would be lost. She continued that having strong case management like a Recovery Court was critical. She said the Veterans Court in Harnett County was another great example. Commissioner Thompson said they could not be afraid to face this because it was killing the population.
Commissioner Lashley commented that it was an informative presentation. He asked about the timeline for the payments. He inquired what the county had done with those funds so far. Ms. Evans answered that they were sitting in a separate designated fund until the county adopted a plan.
Ms. Barber reiterated that they will have recommendations on how the county should begin to utilize those funds based on the community assessment, needs, and data provided. She emphasized that the use of the opioid funds was particular on how they were to be used. Ms. Barber mentioned that they had to have 51% or more individuals with opioid disorders being served.
Commissioner Turner asked whether there was a deadline to allocate those funds. Ms. Evans did not believe there was a deadline. Commissioner Turner asked whether the Justice Advisory Council (JAC) would be making any recommendations or involved in the strategies the Health Department would develop for these services. Ms. Barber confirmed that she makes these presentations to JAC and that they would seek input from them. She advised that they try to work with everyone in the community who is involved with individuals who have an addiction.
Vice-Chair Carter opened the floor to any municipality representatives who wished to provide comments concerning the opioid settlements. There were no representatives present who wanted to give comments.