Both the Orange County and Chatham County local governments are preparing for community meetings about incoming funding from opioid settlements, in which residents are encouraged to share thoughts on how the money should be used.
Orange County is receiving more than $6.7 million and Chatham County is receiving more than $5 million from a series of national and statewide settlements with companies who helped fuel the opioid epidemic, where people have become addicted to the narcotics. While both county governments are already taking some steps to determine uses for the money — including Orange County creating an advisory committee specifically for the funds — they are also looking for community input on how it wishes to see the drawn-out payments put to action.
“Orange County receives Opioid Litigation Settlement Funds each year to support treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and other life-saving programs and services,” Caitlin Fenhagen, the Orange County criminal justice resource director, said in a release. “You have a say in how and where these funds are spent in our community,”
The Orange County meeting will happen first, as the local government is hosting an event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the Whitted Human Services Building in Hillsborough. The event will include presentations from experts about the data around local overdose rates and opioid use, as well as where there are gaps in treatment resources and service. Lunch will be served, and then participants will discuss ideas in small groups. While Saturday’s event required registration through Tuesday, community members can call the Orange County Health Department at 919-245-2411 with questions.
Chatham County’s Public Health Department will hold its first event on Thursday, May 2. The community meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Goldston Public Library and those with thoughts on how the funding could be used, or who wish to share their own experiences with the opioid crisis, are encouraged to attend. Registration is available here.
“It is more important than ever that we provide life-saving addiction and recovery resources for substance use to Chatham County residents,” said Chatham County Public Health Department Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator Morgan Culver. “Each day, 11 North Carolinians died of opioid overdoses, and we’ve lost nearly 100 people to overdoses since 2020 here in Chatham. The National Opioid Settlement funds are a wonderful opportunity to repair the harm caused by the opioid crisis and build a healthier future.”
Future Chatham County opioid settlement community meetings will happen on Tuesday, May 14 at the Chatham County Library in Pittsboro, and Saturday, May 18 at the Wren Memorial Library in Siler City.
Those struggling with addiction can call the NAMI NC HelpLine. This is an information and referral service for North Carolinians in need of counseling support for substance abuse, alcohol addiction, and suicidal tendencies. The help hotline number is available from Monday all through to Friday starting from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., EST. The line is 1-800-451-9682.
Naloxone, or Narcan, can be used to reverse a drug overdose. The Orange County Health Department offers free Naloxone kits and training by appointment. Call 919-245-2400.
Photo via David Bradley/The Chatham News + Record.
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