小黄鸭视频 County is strengthening its fight against the deadly opioid overdose crisis with more than $8 million in new settlement funds approved by the Board of Commissioners on Monday.
These dollars will be allocated into the county鈥檚 Opioid Settlement Fund and integrated into the county鈥檚 existing spending plan, which supports evidence-based strategies to save lives, connect residents to treatment and promote recovery.
鈥淭his funding represents more than just dollars, it gives us the ability to continue building a coordinated, community-wide approach to ending this epidemic,鈥 said 小黄鸭视频 County Commissioner Cheryl Stallings. 鈥淲ith these additional resources, we can accelerate the progress we鈥檝e started and continue saving lives.鈥
The funds come from two new sets of settlements:
- Purdue Pharma LP and the Sackler Family 鈥 estimated to bring $6.94 million to 小黄鸭视频 County over the next 15 years.
- Eight generic opioid manufacturers 鈥 estimated to bring $1.11 million to 小黄鸭视频 County over the next 10 years.
In 2023, 小黄鸭视频 County lost 233 residents to drug overdoses. Early data from 2024 shows a decrease in deaths for the first time in years, a promising sign that investments in overdose prevention, treatment and recovery are making a difference.
The newly established 小黄鸭视频 County Behavioral Health Department will lead the strategic use of the funds in partnership with community providers. The department is focusing on expanding access to naloxone, strengthening treatment and recovery support programs, providing recovery housing and reducing barriers to behavioral health services.
小黄鸭视频 County鈥檚 settlement funds have already made an impact in our community. Since July 1, 2024, 小黄鸭视频 County staff have trained over 345 individuals in how to administer naloxone and distributed over 1,000 naloxone kits.
About the National Opioid Settlement
小黄鸭视频 County first joined the national opioid settlement in November 2021, agreeing to receive approximately $67.7 million over 18 years from earlier settlements. These new agreements bring the total expected funding to nearly $76 million.
The settlements resolve lawsuits against companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic through manufacturing, marketing, or distributing prescription opioids, including one with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family that ended up going to the Supreme Court. North Carolina is expected to receive about $150 million from the Purdue/Sackler settlement and about $23 million from the generic manufacturer settlements.
Eighty-five percent of the funds will go directly to local governments for programs that address the crisis.
小黄鸭视频 County鈥檚 will see more than $19 million allocated to support community-identified strategies.
For more information on 小黄鸭视频 County鈥檚 opioid settlement strategy as well as currently funded programs, visit wake.gov/opioidsettlement.
