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JACKSON – Counties all across North Carolina are receiving opioid settlement funds that will be used in different ways to reduce the harm those drugs can create.

Northampton County approved a resolution last year that lays out how their portion of the funding will be used, but the Board of Commissioners approved an updated version of the resolution at their meeting on Oct. 7 to account for additional funds.

“This is not a new resolution,” explained County Manager Julian Phillips as he presented the information at Monday’s meeting. “The only difference here is that the funding level has increased from $741,000 to $1.4 million.”

Phillips explained that the county has opted to use the funds for five different strategies. Those include collaborative strategic planning, early intervention, naloxone distribution, post-overdose response team, and syringe service program.

Many of these strategies will be coordinated by Northampton County’s Health Department, and he also noted that Health Department Director Megan Vick is the chair of the board which will oversee spending the settlement funds.

“We have a budget for the fiscal year, so we know what we’re planning on spending this year,” Phillips stated. “And now that we have more monies, we’ll have more opportunity to engage in the activities that we have identified.”

Commissioner Kelvin Edwards asked about the timeline for spending the settlement funds.

“The money goes through 2039,” Phillips answered, noting that the county is allocated a certain amount each year to use.

Edwards then motioned to approve the resolution, and Melvetta Broadnax Taylor seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor by those in attendance. Commissioner Geneva Faulkner was unable to attend Monday’s meeting.