Burke County commissioners voted to opt into a new round of opioid-settlement distributions tied to additional drug manufacturers, allowing county attorneys to pursue county claims under the most recent national settlements.

A county official explained that each manufacturer that reaches a national settlement creates a new pool of funds and counties are asked to opt in to participate in the claims process. “Every time a different drug manufacturer settles out a case, we basically opt in to the same system,” a staff member said, adding that Sandoz is the most recent company to reach a settlement that would enable counties to make a claim.

The official said the county’s previous awards have been modest and that the earliest funds have been used for items such as Narcan; the county’s share from earlier rounds was small relative to the national settlements. Commissioners unanimously approved continued participation in the new round.

No specific allocation of any new settlement funds was made at the meeting; staff said attorneys who handle the county’s claims will pursue distribution and the county will receive any awarded funds through the established process.