Columbus County approves $1.18 million opioid‑settlement spending plan to fund prevention, treatment and recovery programs

Columbus County commissioners approved on April 20 a strategic spending plan to allocate $1,182,177 in opioid‑settlement funds toward prevention, treatment and recovery services.

Sarah Webb, who presented the strategic plan, said the county engaged nearly 30 residents in a planning process that included 10 focus groups and more than a dozen key informant interviews. The plan focuses on five major areas: harm reduction, prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery resources. "We had close to 30 people in Columbus County participate in our strategic planning process," Webb said, and staff recommended continuing funding across the same strategies approved previously, with additions to support expanded activities.

Webb highlighted measurable components: a 24‑hour call center purchased with settlement funds, beds purchased from a recovery provider used by people the county placed into treatment, and Narcan distribution. She also cited county opioid‑related death figures from a state injury‑prevention chart: 33 deaths in 2021, 13 in 2022, 20 in 2023, 9 in 2024, 5 in 2025 and 2 in the first half of 2026; Webb said these declines indicate the county is making progress.

The board approved the resolution funding the strategies and separately approved a resolution authorizing the county to participate in remnant‑defendant distributions as part of settlement administration. Commissioners discussed whether the strategies mirrored prior years and were told they were essentially the same with some additions. No competing motions were recorded. The approved expenditures will be tracked in a distinct opioid‑settlement budget and reported as required by the attorney general's office.