Durham County is receiving $21,728,813 in opioid settlement funds through 2038.
Durham County received $1.5 million in 2022-23, $3.2 million in 2023-24, $1.8 million in 2024-25.
The county has authorized these funds for a variety of initiatives to address the opioid crisis in Durham.
Like other local governments in North Carolina, Durham County must spend the money on efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. Spending plans are made public at ncopioidsettlement.org. So, how has Wake County spent the money? Here’s a snapshot.
December 1, 2023:
- $280,905 – Support hiring a Public Health Education Harm Reduction Specialist; provide programmatic & outreach supplies; purchase naloxone to support distribution through the Durham County Department of Public Health Pharmacy and 3 naloxone vending machines; purchase and calibration of 1 naloxone vending machine; and contract staffing to provide outreach by an individual with lived experience.
- $43,595 – Purchase of safer syringe program supplies for Durham County Department of Public Health pharmacy and community distribution.
April 29, 2024:
- $140,900 – Support hiring an Opioid Program Manager to coordinate the County’s opioid abatement and remediation strategic planning and activities.
- $226,500 – Hiring of Community Linkages to Care (CLC) Peer Support Specialists: state-certified individuals living in recovery with mental illness and/or substance use disorder who provide support and guidance to individuals struggling with opioid use disorder (contract through local behavioral health facility).
July 8, 2024:
- $145,119 – Support hiring an Opioid Program Manager to coordinate the County’s opioid abatement and remediation strategic planning and activities.
- $436,719 – Hiring of Community Linkages to Care (CLC) Peer Support Specialists: state-certified individuals living in recovery with mental illness and/or substance use disorder who provide support and guidance to individuals struggling with opioid use disorder (contract through local behavioral health facility).
- $298,433 – Support hiring a Public Health Education Harm Reduction Specialist; provide programmatic & outreach supplies; purchase naloxone to support distribution through the Durham County Department of Public Health Pharmacy and 3 naloxone vending machines; purchase and calibration of 1 naloxone vending machine; and contract staffing to provide outreach by an individual with lived experience.
- $224,568 – Hiring two additional Community Paramedics will allow them to broaden their reach and connect with people after an overdose as well as having more staff available to connect with patients who previously experienced an overdose within 24 to 72 hours.
- $43,595 – Purchase of safer syringe program supplies for Durham County Department of Public Health pharmacy and community distribution.