Burke County approves opioid-settlement programs and contracts to expand overdose response and treatment

The Burke County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 19 unanimously approved two resolutions to use opioid settlement funds for a county-led overdose response program and for provider-led treatment contracts, county officials said.

County staff said the county-led plan will fund a 24/7 co-response team and related community outreach, and the board approved contracts with three community providers totaling $957,305 to expand local treatment options.

The county-led strategy will create a persistent response team (referred to in presentations as a “PORT” team) staffed by four community paramedics and four peer support specialists to co-respond to overdose calls and to conduct proactive community engagement. The plan also includes hiring a peer community navigator to work across systems — including emergency departments and social services — and continued communitywide naloxone distribution, officials said. “We’re really looking at investing these settlement funds into something that will have a huge impact on the county here,” Doctor Samuels said during the presentation.

Separately,…