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Wilson County approves $455,000 plan from opioid settlement funds for treatment, naloxone and recovery supports
Summary
The board approved an expenditure plan allocating opioid settlement funds across six strategies including evidence-based treatment, naloxone distribution, early intervention, syringe services, recovery housing, and collaborative planning.
Deputy County Manager Lori Winston presented Wilson County's proposed spending plan for opioid settlement funds and the Board of Commissioners voted to approve the package on March 3.
Winston outlined six strategies and proposed allocations: $150,000 for evidence-based addiction treatment, $100,000 for naloxone distribution, $80,000 for early intervention, $45,000 for syringe services, $50,000 for recovery housing support, and $150,000 for collaborative strategic planning. Winston said the county's approach is focused on getting resources to providers so they can deliver treatment and services to individuals in need.
Commissioners asked about metrics and how success is measured. Winston said the county performs statutory opioid reporting at the end of the fiscal year and uses statistics from EMS, emergency department visits, referral counts and provider reports to evaluate outcomes. She provided program performance figures from prior activity: 57 housing stipends, 37 MAT stipends, more than 1,500 naloxone kits distributed, 399 "1-box" distributions, 12 Spanish recovery coach trainings, 40 emergency department visits recorded (down from the prior year), and trauma-informed training reaching over 900 staff and more than 960 students through a partnership with Sally B. Howard and Wilson County Schools.
After discussion, a commissioner moved and seconded the plan and the board approved the expenditure package by voice vote.
