Community members and local partners came together yesterday to discuss the ongoing use of opioid settlement funds in Wake County and to help shape priorities for future allocations. The annual meeting included updates on how funds have been used to date and invited attendees to share feedback and expertise to guide next steps.
Wake County will receive more than $67 million in opioid settlement funds over the course of 18 years, 2022–2038. This annual community meeting gathers feedback to ensure the funds are being used to combat the opioid crisis in the most transformative ways for the community, both in the short term as well as in long-term programming.
“No amount of funding or programming can undo the years of harm done to our community from the opioid crisis,” said Wake County Commissioner Cheryl Stallings. “However, these resources can offer a critical opportunity for healing and restoration. But they must be guided by the voices of those impacted the most.”
Attendees heard updates on how the funds have been implemented in our community and highlights from the work being done. In FY 2025, opioid settlement dollars helped provide:
- 4,075 recovery support contacts
- 134 free buprenorphine prescriptions
- 4,710 naloxone kits
Panelists highlighted work happening across a number of programs including North Carolina’s first mobile opioid treatment program and a newly opened recovery cafe and hub. Speakers emphasized the importance of ensuring people at the front lines of this crisis, including people with opioid use disorder, play a key role in Wake County’s response.
The FY 2026 and 2027 funding plans for Wake County were approved by the Board of Commissioners in June 2025 and allocate more than $19.4 million to support the following strategies:
- Collaborative strategic planning ($350,000)
- Evidence-based addiction treatment ($2.7 million)
- Recovery support services ($7.7 million)
- Recovery housing support ($4 million)
- Early intervention ($2 million)
- Naloxone distribution ($800,000)
- Criminal justice diversion ($500,000)
- Addiction treatment for incarcerated individuals ($1.1 million)
- Education and primary prevention ($331,500)
The meeting created space for community voices. Attendees offered insight into unmet needs, program gaps and opportunities to strengthen services. This feedback will inform future funding decisions and support a more responsive and community-centered approach.
The county will continue collecting feedback through upcoming meetings and stakeholder outreach. Updates on engagement opportunities will be available at wake.gov/opioidsettlement.
If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, help is available. Visit the Wake County Behavioral Health website for resources or call or text 988 for immediate support.
