$7.5 million allocated to support key strategies and initiatives for Fiscal Year 2025

Today, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the Wake County Opioid Settlement Funding Plan for Fiscal Year 2025, marking a significant step forward in addressing the ongoing overdose crisis that continues to grip our community.

The approved plan will allocate $7.5 million for use through June 2025 to achieve improvements in key strategy areas with a focus on youth, historically marginalized populations and residents involved in the justice system. It reflects extensive public input gathered through a community survey, public meetings and work sessions.

“This significant investment represents a crucial step forward in our collective efforts to confront the opioid and overdose crisis head-on, ensuring that anyone affected by addiction receives the support and resources they need to heal and thrive,” said Wake County Commissioner Cheryl Stallings. “We have a long way to go to rebuild what opioids took from our community, but I look forward to seeing what these funds can do when we put them to work in the areas needed most.”

The impact of the opioid epidemic cannot be overstated. In 2022, more than 107,000 people lost their lives due to drug overdoses in the United States, with 219 of those occurring here in Wake County. Opioids were implicated in over three-quarters of these fatalities, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive action to combat this public health emergency.

Key components of the plan support a full continuum of approaches aimed at tackling the opioid crisis, which include:

• Expanding treatment access
  • Evidence-based addiction treatment ($2 million)
  • Addiction treatment for incarcerated individuals ($450,000)
• Preventing overdose deaths
  • Naloxone distribution ($300,000)
• Supporting youth and families
  • Early intervention ($1 million)
• Strengthening access for Historically Marginalized Populations
  • Criminal justice diversion ($500,000)
• Addressing the needs of the whole person
  • Recovery support services ($1.9 million)
  • Recovery housing support ($1 million)
• Engaging the community throughout the process
  • Collaborative strategic planning ($300,000)
     

This work builds on the existing infrastructure developed from previous years. Wake County will continue to seek opportunities for community engagement throughout the plan and look ahead to future funding.

Wake County Opioid Settlement
Over the next 18 years, Wake County will receive more than $65 million as part of the National Opioid Settlement. These funds will bring desperately needed help to communities harmed by the opioid epidemic.

Yearly funding amounts change as a result of fluctuations in settlements and payouts with the pharmaceutical companies. You can stay up to date with the overall funding amounts by visiting the Core NC Dashboard.

For more information about the Wake County Opioid Settlement, visit wake.gov/opioidsettlement.