The proposed $26 billion settlement with drugmaker Purdue Pharma for its involvement in the national opioid crisis could have a ripple effect that would help fund future opioid crisis intervention programs locally.
In 2020, it is estimated that 70 percent of drug overdoses involved opioids. Twenty-eight states in the U.S. saw at least a 30 percent increase last year, with North Carolina coming in higher at 40.5 percent.
Some state leaders have estimated that North Carolina’s share of the settlement could be as much as $750 million over a 17-year period. Counties and municipalities, including Vance County, are adding their names to the list to receive a share of that money.
The Vance County Board of Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Agreement at their Sept. 7 meeting, and County Manager Jordan McMillen told John C. Rose today that this positions Vance County to be a recipient of this funding stream. To date, nearly 60 of the state’s 100 counties have signed the memorandum of agreement.
“The NC MOA provides us guidance as to how funds will be distributed in North Carolina, how they can be spent, as well as audit and reporting requirements, McMillen said in a statement to WIZS News Monday. “The NC MOA is important as it provides local governments with 80-85% of the funds that come into North Carolina versus a lower standard percentage within the national settlement,” he added.
Not only does the MOA govern distribution of funds, but it gives some assurance of the local governments that would participate in the settlement, McMillen noted. It’s not final yet, but if the settlement process continues smoothly, money could start flowing in the next year or so, he estimated.
If Vance County’s share were $3 million over the next 17 years, that means more than $176,000 could be available each year. The memorandum of agreement spells out how each county and municipality must account for, report and audit the funds it receives.
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