Cumberland County updates commissioners on opioid settlement spending, prison MAT and prevention efforts

Cumberland County Drug and Alcohol staff updated the commissioners on the county’s use of opioid settlement funds, reporting program activity, outcomes and planned future funding opportunities tied to national legal settlements.

Brenda (Drug and Alcohol Department) and colleagues told the board that the county’s mitigation strategy focuses on reducing the oversupply of prescription drugs in communities, expanding access to naloxone, increasing access to opioid use disorder treatment, expanding prevention and early‑intervention efforts and partnering with criminal justice to support diversion and recovery programs. The county presented a six‑month status report to the board and to the opioid trust, as required.

Staff said county‑funded programs have seen measurable activity. For the jail MAT program, county staff reported $359,972 spent over the reporting period, most of which covered salaries for Prime Care staff who operate the MAT program inside the prison. The county highlighted the RAISE project and two certified recovery specialists who work in the…