Title
Receive a presentation on the Chatham County Opioid Settlement Funding
Abstract
Introduction & Background: In 2021, the State of North Carolina became part of the National Opioid Settlement, a historic agreement that provides desperately needed relief to communities impacted by opioids. The settlements resolve lawsuits over drug companies’ involvement in creating and fueling the opioid epidemic.
In 2022, Chatham County began receiving more than $5 million in settlement funds from opioid pharmaceutical and distribution companies. The funds will be disbursed in installments through 2038. The funds are being used to address the ongoing opioid crisis and support treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and other life-saving services.
In December 2017, the Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Public Health Department, launched an effort to address mental health issues and prevent controlled substance abuse. This initiative established the Sheriff’s Prevention Partnership on Controlled Substances (SPPCS), which includes representatives from public health, law enforcement, Chatham Drug Free, Social Services, schools, healthcare, recovery providers, treatment providers, non-profit organizations, and community members with lived experience.
The Chatham County Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator (OOPC) oversees the county’s Opioid Settlement funds and leads the county’s strategic planning efforts related to these funds. The OOPC leads the SPPCS and its subcommittees, which meet throughout the year to develop and implement collaborative strategies for addressing substance use in Chatham County and, specifically, to make recommendations on Opioid Settlement spending that are presented to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners for approval. The OOPC also manages all subrecipient contracts, tracks progress, and reports outcomes related to these funds. The OOPC supports Chatham County’s ongoing commitment to enhancing capacity, partnering with diverse stake...
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