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A second opioid settlement agreement has been reached. Dare County commissioners agreed to join the settlement and approved the supplemental agreement for additional funds from additional settlements of opioid litigation in early March.

Settlements were reached in litigation against Walmart, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Allergan Finance, LLC, Allergan Limited, CVS Health Corporation, CVS Pharmacy, Inc., and Walgreen Co., as well as their subsidiaries, affiliates, officers and directors named in the settlement.

As the resolution says certain counties (like Dare) and municipalities in North Carolina joined with others across the country to “file lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, pharmaceutical distribution companies, and chain drug stores to hold those companies accountable for their misconduct;…”

The commissioners authorized county manager Robert L. Outten to execute all documents necessary to enter the settlement agreements and to forward such documents to Rubris, the implementation administration.

In the March 6, 2023 Dare County Board of Commissioners consent agenda, an item indicated that the county received funds due to previous national settlement agreements. In accordance with the North Carolina Memorandum of Agreement, Dare’s commissioners agreed to the following expenditure of funds:

— Evidence based addiction treatment provided by Changing Tides Addiction Center, $24,000 for tuition for treatment costs.

— Evidence based addiction treatment provided by Community Care Clinic of Dare, $25,000 for support capacity for implementation of Vivitrol-MAT.

— Recovery support services provided by OBX Yoga, $2,000 for implementation of yoga recovery classes.

— Recovery support services provided by Jessica Urbano, $4,000 for peer support specialist to support Recovery Court and women’s programs in Dare County Jail.

— Recovery support services provided by OBX Crossroads, $12,500 for support capacity for organization to provide substance use disorder patient services to include rehab/detox, transportation, support, shelter.

— Recovery support services provided by Dare County Health and Human Services, $69,116 for post overdose response coordinator.

— Recovery housing support provided by Interfaith Community Outreach Inc., $5,000 for assisting substance use disorder population with rent, deposits and end of life funeral expenses.

— Employment related services provided by Dare Challenge substance use disorder residential program $15,000 for supplies and tools in partnership with College of The Albemarle for those in recovery to gain skills for employment at the completion of recovery program.

— Early intervention provided by OBX Room in the Inn, $10,000 for mental health first aid instructor training for three people

— Naloxone distribution provided by Just In Case, $2,500 for purchasing naloxone vending machine for community.

— Naloxone distribution provided by Dare County Health and Human Services, $42,000 for harm reduction supplies: naloxone and fentanyl strips.

— Criminal Justice Division to Dare County Recovery Court, $25,000, to provide services, co-pays, transportation to recovery programs, probation meetings to support recovery upon integration back into the community.

— Criminal Justice Division to Dare County, $100,000 for dedicated probation officer for Recovery Court.

— Criminal Justice Division to Dare County Health and Human Services and Dare County Sheriff’s Office, $25,000 for linking jail population to resources needed, rehab, transportation, clothing, medical assistance, health care.

— Prevent misuse of opioids provided by Dare County Health and Human Services, $40,000 for education and awareness to the community on the dangers of fentanyl.

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