Durham County commissioners clear access to grant funds to expand medication‑assisted treatment program

The Durham County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize accessing a grant awarded in mid‑2023 to expand the county’s medication‑assisted treatment program.

Commissioner Heidi Jacobs, who pulled the item from the consent agenda, told the board she intended to vote no on unrelated sheriff’s facility contracts but asked detailed questions about the MAT funding. “It’s my understanding that we were had allocated funding from the opioid settlement funding for the medical director. So that's separate from this,” Jacobs said during the meeting.

Why it matters: commissioners and public health staff said the grant award—originating in June 2023 and referenced in the agenda as roughly $158,000—has not been fully spent because program expansion planning was delayed while the county worked to establish a medical director post tied to the program. County and sheriff’s office representatives said they recently gained access to the grant funds and will begin spending them this fiscal year.

Details from the meeting: Sheriff Clarence Birkhead told commissioners the office had been waiting for access to the funds and is now “ready to move forward and spend the rest of these dollars.” A county program representative said the grant was awarded in June 2023, “we did have access the first year” for planning, and that logistical delays—chiefly approval of a medical director position—slowed further spending.

Officials described how the MAT program currently operates and possible expansion: staff reported 38 people are currently enrolled in the county MAT program; in fiscal year 2024 the program served 387 people. Under existing contracts the program is capped at 50 participants; staff said they could expand capacity to 100 but are hesitant to do so without programmatic planning tied to the medical director role.

The grant as originally written referenced Vivitrol; staff said the state has since broadened allowable uses to other FDA‑approved MAT medications. Commissioners asked for clarity on the distinction between this grant, opioid‑settlement funds for a medical director, and other funding sources; staff said opioid‑settlement funding was used for the medical director position while the grant would fund program expansion and supplies.

What the board decided: the board approved the item that allows the department to access and spend the grant funds. The motion to approve was moved by Vice Chair Dr. Lee and seconded by Commissioner Jacobs. The item passed (recorded as approved in the meeting record).

Next steps and follow‑up: staff said they will coordinate with the newly approved medical director, public health and community partners to finalize expansion plans and attempt to obligate the grant money before the fiscal year ends. Commissioners requested additional follow‑up on program planning and timelines.

Speakers quoted or cited in this report: Commissioner Heidi Jacobs, Sheriff Clarence Birkhead, and a county MAT program representative.