[Durham INC] Durham County, BOCC Seek Resident Feedback on National Opioid Settlement Funding

[Jones, Henry R.]

[DCO_Shield_color]

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                               Date: 12/07/2022
Contact: Public Information Office                      Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020
E-mail: publicinformationoffice at dconc.gov<mailto:publicinformationoffice at dconc.gov>

Durham County, BOCC Seek Resident Feedback on National Opioid Settlement Funding
Residents encouraged to take online survey, attend future community listening sessions

Durham, NC - Durham County Government has begun to receive its part of the historic $26 billion National Opioid Settlement (NOS)<https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/>. These settlement funds will bring much needed help to counties on the frontline of the opioid epidemic by providing public services that save lives and support recovery.

The allocated settlement funds can only be used to address the opioid epidemic and support treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and other life-saving programs and services. Durham County is expected to receive nearly $11.6 million over an 18-year period<https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-a-e/county-manager/north-carolina-opioid-settlement/durham-county-payment-schedule>.

Before spending settlement funds, Durham County must first select which opioid mitigation strategies it would like to fund. Durham County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) is hard at work planning how to best invest the settlement funds and is now looking for community members' help with prioritizing where the funds will go.

"The development of solutions to the opioid crisis is one of the most important challenges facing County Commissioners, and the funds we receive from the National Opioid Settlement will help us increase our investment in prevention, access to treatment (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder), harm reduction services, and the removal of barriers to care," said Commissioner Heidi Carter. "We look forward to learning the results of our engagement with the community so we can effectively target our investments to reduce mortality and improve overall wellbeing. It must be easier to connect to care in Durham County than it is to find drugs and end up in an overdose situation or death."

The BOCC will use tools such as a community survey<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XKYJ3XL> and listening sessions to receive citizen input before making decisions about the NOS funds allocated to Durham County. The online community survey is accessible now until Mid-January. In-person and virtual community listening sessions will be scheduled in late January 2023. Residents interested in dates, times, and locations of the upcoming sessions, and other information about  the survey should visit the Durham County Government's North Carolina Opioid Settlement webpage<https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-a-e/county-manager/north-carolina-opioid-settlement>.

The survey<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XKYJ3XL> asks which of 12 strategies eligible for NOS funding are a priority for community members. It also seeks information on services Durham County lacks, parts of the community hardest hit by the opioid epidemic, most important resources needed, and other issues which overlap with our opioid issues.

Counties are on the frontline of the opioid epidemic, providing public services that save lives and support recovery. 911 call centers and county-run crisis lines are the first to receive calls for help when someone overdoses. First responders, and increasingly mental health clinicians, are the first to arrive on the scene to stabilize crisis situations and offer support. Local crisis triage centers like Durham Recovery Response Center serve as safe places before, during and after a behavioral health crisis to access services, treatment and immediate and ongoing care.

The State of North Carolina and all 100 counties, including Durham County, joined the NOS agreement. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the State and local government directs how opioid settlement funds are distributed and used throughout the state. To maximize funds flowing to North Carolina communities on the front lines of the opioid epidemic, the MOA allocates 15 percent of settlement funds to the State and sends the remaining 85 percent to NC's 100 counties and 17 municipalities. The 18-year payment to N.C. state and local governments during 2022-2038 will total $757,666,411. Click here<https://ncopioidsettlement.org/data-dashboards/payment-schedule/> to learn about the NOS Payment Schedule for North Carolina.

"We often hear that Durham is rich in resources, but that does not accurately reflect the gaps we see in the field," said Interim General Manager for Safe Community and Criminal Justice Resource Center Director Gudrun Parmer. "Through community input gathered we hope to develop a more accurate understanding of the needs and missing links persons with opioid use disorders experience. We can then work towards developing comprehensive resources to address the opioid epidemic."

Click here<https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dconc.gov%2Fhome%2Fshowdocument%3Fid%3D38097%26t%3D638058546025491858&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK> for more information on services and programs available to help the Durham County community with substance use disorders, opioid addiction, recovery support services, recovery housing support, employment, intervention, criminal justice diversion, reentry and more.

Learn more about the North Carolina Opioid Settlement by visiting the state's CORE-NC: Community Opioid Resources Engine for North Carolina<https://ncopioidsettlement.org/> and More Powerful NC<https://www.morepowerfulnc.org/opioid-settlements/>.

Seek help for someone struggling with opioid addiction by visiting allianceforaction.org<https://allianceforaction.org/> or calling Alliance Health at 1-800-510-9132.

For more information on the NOS or resident feedback sought regarding settlement funding, contact Parmer at 919-560-0500 or cjrc at dconc.gov<mailto:cjrc at dconc.gov>.

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