Cumberland County details use of opioid settlement funds and expands jail MAT, naloxone distribution
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Summary
County officials reported progress using opioid‑settlement funds for jail-based medication‑assisted treatment, naloxone distribution and prevention programs; the board approved continued allocations and plans to pilot monthly injectable buprenorphine (SUBLOCADE) through a PCCD grant application.
Cumberland County commissioners heard a report on April 8, 2026, detailing how opioid‑settlement dollars are being spent on treatment, prevention and naloxone distribution and approved continuing the county’s current allocations and pilot efforts.
Brenda, who led the update to the board, said the county had prioritized standing up existing programs and creating an appendix of definitions to reduce confusion in public discussions. She said the county had supplied money to keep prevention and recovery programs operating while staff continue monitoring expenses and preparing required reports to the settlement trust.
Ryan, who the chair introduced to start the operational briefing, summarized the county jail’s expanded MAT program that began in May 2024. "For the second half of the first full year, we did 49 induction assessments and inducted 42 participants," Ryan said. He reported 175 inmates participated in the program over the period and an average daily census of 51 participants, and noted an observed low recidivism count: "Only 18 participants out of the 2025 cohort returned for any period of time." He added the average length of stay for those who did return was longer, and staff plan to study outcomes by treatment type.
Morgan Goodling, the county’s opioid mitigation coordinator, told commissioners that the county had spent no opioid‑settlement funds on community opioid‑use‑disorder treatment during the current six‑month reporting window, reserving those settlement dollars for other priorities while using state treatment funds where required. She also reported nearly $40,000 had been used from the settlement for Naloxone distribution since the county took over distribution in May 2024.
County staff described prevention and school‑based supports funded in part with settlement resources: a student assistance (SAP) program that conducts biopsychosocial assessments and short education interventions; a small prevention team that delivered 26 'Catch My Breath' vaping prevention classes from September through December; and family‑oriented programs like the evidence‑based 'Incredible Years' family program. Jeri Swavely, SAP supervisor, said the program is in every Cumberland County public school and one private school and reported $40,718.37 in settlement‑period funding for staff during the reporting window.
On corrections‑based innovation, commissioners discussed a noncompetitive PCCD MAP grant the county is pursuing to pilot SUBLOCADE (an extended‑release buprenorphine injection) in the jail. Rebecca Finkie explained the pilot would aim to improve continuity of care on release and reduce diversion inside the facility by providing a longer‑acting medication prior to discharge, noting that staff would analyze cost‑benefit over two years.
Commissioners asked staff to continue monitoring program costs, to carry out the time studies used to allocate staff expenses, and to report back as required by the settlement trust’s six‑month reporting schedule. The board offered general support for continuing the current program structure and pursuing the SUBLOCADE pilot.
The county said it will submit the required public reports and return to the commissioners with further updates; no vote was required to receive the update.
