Story re-published with permission from The Sylva Herald by Beth Lawrence
Residents were given a look at efforts to utilize Jackson County’s portion of opioid settlements between states and opioid manufacturers and distributors.
At the County Commissioners’ March 4 work session, two members of the recently formed Local Settlement Council – Jackson County Department of Public Health education supervisor Meagan Cagle and substance use prevention coordinatorJodie Rodewald – updated the board on efforts to organize and create a plan for settlement funds.
They began with a reminder of settlement details. Eighty five percent of North Carolina’s settlement will be disbursed to all 100 counties and 17 municipalities. The remaining 15 percent goes to the state and the General Assembly decides how it is spent. Jackson County was allotted $6.1 million. The county has received just over $1.8 million thus far. Another payment of $490,000 is scheduled for July with payments continuing until 2038.
“Each year is a little bit different,” Rodewald said. “It’s frontloaded to get programs started, and then as the years progress, the funding goes down a little bit.”
Counties must use funds to support treatment and recovery, harm reduction or other services that address the fallout of drug misuse.
Early on the seven western counties created a regional strategic plan to use the funds. Putting together the plan was a partnership between Dogwood Health Trust, Ten Biz, the Southwestern Commission, and Omni Institute, working with county managers, public health, social services, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, community members, service providers, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and persons with lived experience. It was eventually decided that a regional approach would not work, but the plan should be adapted to individual counties.
The effort identified several themes including combatting stigma but gave weight to one.
“Collaboration was emphasized as a regional strength and also the high priority,” Cagle said.
From that collaboration, the county’s planning council was formed and has met three times since December.
Commissioner Jenny Hooper asked how people would know which services are available.
Board Chair Mark Letson informed her disseminating information would be part of the planning process.
Rodewald told commissioners the plan is to fund whichever effort is chosen for three years at a time with yearly reviews.
Proposals welcomed
From Feb. 20 to March 20, the council opened a request for pitches to create services. A steering committee is being formed to review proposals and make recommendations for funding.
“We would invite any of you to be part of that steering committee if you’re interested,” Cagle said. “We would like to ask permission to continue the planning development, review proposals from Jackson County organizations and to offer recommendations for funding.”
Proposals were accepted from nonprofits, government agencies, hospitals, behavioral and mental health providers and educational institutions both private and public. Priority will be given to Jackson County groups. Proposals that duplicate existing services will not be considered.
Using a weighted score from zero to five, the steering committee will examine impact, cost benefit, track record, financial stability plans, and whether the proposal aligns with priorities identified.
Commissioner John Smith asked if the money could be used for the medical assisted treatment program Sheriff Doug Farmer is implementing at the Detention Center.
Letson said that it currently could not because the program is grant funded, but there could be “crossover” with support services.
“The main thing that helps these people is the support and more of a hands-on type of thing definitely, and jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs,” Hooper said. “The idle mind is the devil’s playground.”
The program could be funded with settlement money if grants run out, Rodewald said.
“If it’s a big success in the jail, I would like to see it continue on,” Commissioner Todd Bryson said.
Hooper replied that early intervention in a child’s life was important to set a child up to succeed.
“Exactly, and that’s why one of our strategies is early intervention,” Rodewald said.
Commissioner Jennings suggested a MAT program for the general public.
Bryson agreed, proposing a medication assisted treatment clinic and asked what a timeframe to get programs off the ground would look like.
RFPs will be examined in April and top choices will hopefully be presented to the board in May, Rodewald said.
The committee will suggest six strategies to fund chosen from 12 recommended by the memorandum of agreement between counties and the state regarding funding. They are collaborative strategic planning, evidence-based addiction treatment, recovery support services, post overdose response, early intervention and Naloxone distribution.
The council will also monitor data over time including statistics on overdose deaths, emergency department overdose visits, illicit drug overdoses, prescription drug over doses, and prescription opioid distribution. They will use that data to prioritize funding for projects, continue funding what is working and expand existing services by possibly adding new elements to fill in gaps or remove barriers to care.
Based on 2023 data, Jackson County had 47.1 overdoses per 100,000 people; in actual numbers that amounts to 21 people.
“This rate is among the highest rate seen in North Carolina,” Rodewald said.
Emergency visits were 78.5 per 100,000 in 2024 or 35 in actual numbers.
That was among the lowest rate in the state, Rodewald said.
“It highlights a potential gap in access to emergency care in the county related to overdoses,” she said.
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Settlement sends county money to fight drugs
