Durham commissioners approve legislative goals on recovery housing standards and jail treatment

The Durham Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 26 to add a set of legislative goals asking the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners to pursue state-level action on recovery housing and jail-based treatment.

Commissioner Wendy Jacobs requested adding the goals to the consent agenda; Commissioner Heidi Carter moved and Jacobs seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The goals ask state lawmakers to (1) require recovery housing operators not to bar residents from using prescribed medications for behavioral or physical health conditions; (2) reference the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) best practices for recovery housing; and (3) require recovery residences to meet National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) certification standards. The board also approved language urging legislation that would require jail facilities to assess inmates’ substance-use status, provide medications for opioid-use disorders, and arrange follow-up care and care coordination after release.

Support materials and examples referenced during the request included a Maryland statutory example and a National Academy for State Health Policy briefing on funding options for medication-assisted treatment in corrections. Commissioners did not debate or amend the specific legislative text during the meeting; the Board’s action was limited to approving submission of the goals to the NCACC for consideration.

The motion to add and submit the goals was recorded by the clerk as approved with a unanimous vote; no roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript. The Board provided no timeline for follow-up or staff implementation during the meeting.