Opioid Settlement

Background Information

Opioid Crisis in North Carolina

Over the years, opioid-related issues like deaths, hospitalizations and ER visits have been on the rise becoming a growing health concern in North Carolina. In June 2017, North Carolina responded with a Opioid Action Plan 2.0, which was updated in May 2021. North Carolina’s Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan 3.0 lays out concrete strategies focused on prevention, harm reduction and care access.

Opioid Settlement

Attorney General Josh Stein secured $56 billion in national settlements with opioid companies, including $1.5 billion for North Carolina.

Two settlements were reached, one in July 2021 and another in Nov.-Dec. 2022, addressing the industry's role in the epidemic. There is a third settlement that is pending.

The first settlement, released in July 2021, was with the three largest drug distributors (McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen) and manufacturer Johnson & Johnson for $26 billion.
The second settlement, released in November and December 2022, was with CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Allergan, and Teva for $21 billion.
The third settlement with Purdue and Secondary Opioid Settlement Manufacturers is pending. It will bring approximately $168 million to NC.

These funds aim to aid affected communities and require significant changes in the industry that will help prevent this type of crisis from reoccurring.

Allocation to Counties

The settlement funds were allocated to 100 counties and 17 municipalities in North Carolina over an 18-year period, starting in 2022.

The state developed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with each county or municipality which directs how opioid funds are distributed and used. Before spending settlement funds, every local county or municipality selected which opioid mitigation strategies they want to fund.

Union County's Share

Union County will receive a total of $17,709,301 from both settlement sources. They are using NC Exhibit B, incorporating an adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) framework and a trauma-informed approach to address the crisis.

Opioid Settlement

For more details, visit the North Carolina Opioid Settlement page.

Vision

To create a coordinated and compassionate system that prevents opioid-related harm, saves lives, and empowers lasting recovery and a healthier quality of life for all Union County residents.

Mission

To effectively invest NC Opioid Settlement funds in strategies and organizations that work collaboratively to prevent misuse, reduce harm, promote recovery, and improve the health and well-being of all Union County residents.

Goals

Goal 1

Prevent Opioid Misuse and Reduce Overdose Deaths in Union County.

Goal 2

Reduce Harm from Opioid and Other Substance Misuse Through Prevention, Education, and Access to Harm-Reduction Resources.

Goal 3

Connect Affected Individuals and Their Families to Accessible Care and Support.

Expand/Increase Existing Efforts

Increase naloxone and syringe service access.
Expand Treatment and Recovery Resources.
Increase economic support for individuals via expanded transportation options and low/no cost treatment options.
Expand Peer Support and Substance Use Care Coordination resources.

Approved Funding Information

The total amount of funding allocated to these groups or services through June 2026 is $2,724,783.

Bridge to Recovery

Cameron’s House of Hope

Family Treatment Courts

Ground 40

New Beginnings

Union County Sheriff’s Office and Union County Public Schools

Union County Human Services Naloxone Distribution

Wingate University

As an academic partner, Wingate University is collaborating with Union County Human Services to finalize the documentation of program structures and activities to build an evaluation and data collection.

Wingate University is developing a map of key evaluation indicators with metrics and associated data sources. Wingate University recently secured the Research Data Capture (REDCap) System, a secure data collection system, that will be used to gather evaluation metrics. As an academic institute, Wingate will assist with monitoring and evaluating UC Opioid Settlement Strategies, support a data dashboard, and disseminate reports.

Milestones & Timeline

July 21, 2021

Settlement agreement reached.

Aug. 16, 2021

Union County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) adopted a resolution approving a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the State of North Carolina and Local Governments for the Settlement of the Opioid Litigation.

SUD Task Force: Launched May 22, 2024

Goals:

Provide a forum that promotes:

Collaboration – avoid silos
Ensure that the work on SUD is comprehensive
Come together to increase capacity to address SUD
Ensure we are addressing SUD using a 2-generational approach (ACEs and trauma-informed framework)

Watch Past Meetings

Union County, NC

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Opioid Settlement

Opioid Crisis in North Carolina

Opioid Settlement

Allocation to Counties

Union County's Share

Goals

Core Strategies

Expand/Increase Existing Efforts

Create New Strategy

Develop Collaborative Support Structure

Approved Funding Information

Milestones & Timeline

SUD Task Force: Launched May 22, 2024

Goals:

March 4, 2024

Oct. 02, 2023

June 19, 2023

Feb. 06, 2023