Ashley Barber, Coordinator of Health Services, gave an informative presentation and recap of the opioid settlement. She reviewed that the county anticipated receiving $16,638,635 between 2022 to 2038 from the North Carolina opioid settlement. She said that those funds will help bring desperately needed resources to those directly impacted by the opioid epidemic. Ms. Barber indicated that the county had received just over $5 million. The Board had authorized Resolution #1, expending $1,278,060.00, and Resolution #2, expending $1,302,862.27, leaving an available balance of $2,432,311.85. She noted the county was receiving funds under the McKenzie opioid settlement, which was completely separate from the North Carolina opioid settlement.
Ms. Barber reviewed the Exhibit A Strategies. She said the county was currently funding collaborative strategic planning, evidence-based addiction treatment, recovery support services, early intervention, naloxone distribution, post-overdose response teams, and re-entry programs. She mentioned that the health department was monitoring the authorized strategies and contracts. Ms. Barber advised that monthly invoices and contracts were monitored for compliance. She provided a data snapshot of opioid overdoses from 2021 to 2024. She reported that 3,668 doses of Naloxone had been distributed last year in collaboration with community partners.
Ms. Barber discussed the FY25-26 opioid settlement recommendations, which focused on approving two positions that will dedicate time to carry out the work. She explained that one of those positions was an existing position with a portion of the salary to offset the county's cost. The second requested position would help with the data and evaluation of all contracts. She said the second position, if approved, would be funded completely with settlement dollars. Ms. Barber noted that should the settlement dollars go away, that position would go away. She also recommended continuing funding recovery support services that connected people to opioid recovery services, such as those provided by Orinoco Wellness, for another year. Ms. Barber said the total amount of those recommendations was $590,134.52. She reiterated that there was no action to be taken that day, but the budget package would include the resolution with those recommendations. She said municipal and court officials were invited to provide input at that meeting. No municipal or court officials were present to provide any additional input.
Lee Maxwell, the new Recovery Court Coordinator, was introduced in the meeting.