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Substance abuse director seeks continuation of opioid settlement and federal funding to sustain programs
Summary
Substance Abuse Recovery Program Director Jamie Edwards asked commissioners to continue supporting programs funded by opioid settlement and federal grants that sustain treatment, transportation and detention‑based counseling; Edwards warned settlement funds taper and urged careful stewardship to extend services.
Jamie Edwards, director of Surry County’s Substance Abuse Recovery Program, told commissioners March 2025 the county’s opioid settlement and federal grant funding has supported a range of addiction services and has likely contributed to local reductions in overdose deaths, but that those settlement funds are scheduled to decline and the county must plan for long‑term sustainment.
Edwards said the department’s FY2026 budget request does not rely on a new county match; it draws primarily from opioid settlement distributions and Department of Justice grant funds. The request would continue funding existing activities—transportation to treatment, recovery‑to‑work supports, prevention and the post‑overdose response team—and expand detention‑based counseling (Surrey Transition Project, STP) with federal support. Edwards described STP as at capacity and said demand is growing.
Edwards presented a multi‑year forecast prepared with county finance staff showing expected annual opioid settlement distributions and the planned use of supplemental general‑assembly funds and federal grants through the 2030s. He said that strategy has allowed the county to bank some settlement proceeds and smooth funding across years, but warned that the known settlement streams are finite and that external federal/state grant availability may decline. The forecast included a potential scaling by the general fund in later years if commissioners wish to extend services beyond settlement longevity.
Edwards also reviewed program specifics: transportation services operate scheduled routes to clinics, pharmacies and probation appointments, and the department is piloting two‑week transition transportation for people early in employment; Edwards said the sample size is small and impact needs longer follow‑up. She outlined administrative staffing, peer support positions inside EMS and other operational details and said a small McKinsey settlement allocation permits prorating part of her salary to meet federal grant rules for the detention program.
On outcomes, Edwards said overdose events and deaths have fallen locally and statewide but cautioned researchers are still studying causes; she credited multiple factors including naloxone distribution, post‑overdose outreach, EMS efforts and county investments. Commissioners asked about sustaining programs if settlement streams decline; Edwards recommended conservative use of one‑time settlement funds to preserve future years of service and said staff will continue seeking grant opportunities.
