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Commissioner Hovis - DHHS - Community Support Services - To Approve a Resolution to Direct the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds for the purchase of Naloxone by Gaston County Emergency Medical Services (Year 1 - FY25: $65,197 / Total Program: $65,197)
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STAFF CONTACT
Gregory Grier - Community Support Services - 704-862-6735
BUDGET IMPACT
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Increase revenue and expenses in the Opioid Settlement Funds by the following:
Year 1 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025): $65,197.00
Total opioid settlement funds: $65,197.00. No additional County funds.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
Minimal impact to the budget ordinance.
BACKGROUND
The State of NC joined in the national litigation against pharmaceutical supply chain participants who engaged in the manufacture, marketing, promotion, distribution, or dispensing of opioid medications that has harmed the public. On June 8, 2021, the Board of Commissioners approved the Memorandum of Agreement Between the State of North Carolina and Local Governments on Proceeds Relating to the Settlement of Opioid Litigation (Res 2021-172) joining in the national litigation. Gaston County will receive a projected $40,000,000 in settlement funds to be received over a period of 18 years. To date, the County has received $9,065,809 in settlement funds. To date, $3,858,518 has been allocated by the Board of Commissioners.
This Board Action, if approved, appropriates $65,197.00 in Opioid Settlement funds for the purchase of Naloxone by Gaston County Emergency Medical Services. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that works to quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. GEMS is projected to distribute 2,646 community naloxone kits in 2024, this is a 99% increase compared to 2023. There has been a total of 329 opioid overdoses in Gaston County in 2024, at the current rate, GEMS is projected to respond to an estimated 785 opioid overdoses this year. This will be a 36% decrease compared to the 1,235 opioid overdose responses in 2023. The decrease in reported opioid overdoses can be largely attributed to the high saturation of Naloxone in the community, preventing fatal overdoses and keeping Gaston County residents alive.
To ensure that the doses of Naloxone reach the most vulnerable populations, GEMS will distribute the medication in several ways. First will be through giving Naloxone kits to all patients they respond to for opioid overdoses, any family member of a patient who overdoses, and any community member who wishes to have Naloxone on hand. An allotment will also be given to Gaston County Public Schools, they recently passed a policy that allows a dose of Naloxone to be kept in every school building, on all school buses, and with coaches for athletic events. Another allotment will be given to the Gaston County Public Health Department where they will be able to give Naloxone and discuss substance use within clinic spaces, WIC, during community engagement events and programs. First responders will also be given an allotment of Naloxone to use if they encounter an overdose and are the first on the scene.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Spending Authorization Resolution; Budget Change Request (BCR)