Burke County approves opioid-settlement spending to fund response teams, treatment contracts

The Burke County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 19 approved a package of opioid-settlement strategies that funds a county-led response team, expands naloxone distribution and pays three local providers to increase treatment capacity.

County Manager Brian Eppley and a public-health presenter, identified in the meeting as Dr. Samuels, told commissioners the plan combines a county-operated rapid response and outreach team with contracts for community treatment to lower overdoses and connect people to care. Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the county-led resolution and then unanimously approved contracts totaling $957,305 with three providers.

The county-led strategy adopted by the board funds a 24/7 PORT team that the presenter described as including “4 community paramedics and 4 peer support specialists,” plus a peer community navigator to coordinate handoffs with hospitals, law enforcement and social services, and continued naloxone distribution (the presenter noted an existing naloxone vending machine in Valdez). “We want to keep that naloxone flowing in the community, in the schools, in the jails, and wherever we can put it,” Dr. Samuels said during the presentation.

The board also approved provider-led contracts designed to expand local treatment options. The motion authorized the county manager to execute three contracts: $300,000 with A Caring Alternative for intensive outpatient programs (listed in the proposals as SAICOT and SAIOP), $267,305 with High Country Community Health to…