ROCKINGHAM — The first expenditure of funds from Richmond County’s portion of the national opioid settlement will be used to purchase a cache of naloxone.
The Richmond County Board of Commissioners approved an expenditure resolution from the Drug Endangered Family Task Force’s request, made by Social Services Director Robby Hall, for $58,000 to purchase the overdose-reversing drug throughout the fiscal year.
The task force is in charge of allocation of the funds, however commissioners have the final approval on expenditures.
(Disclosure: This writer is the DEFT media representative.)
Hall told commissioners that the repository for first responders has been supplied through grants, “but those grants are ending.”
“So, to be able to have that treatment, or emergency-response drug, we can use these funds … and order as needed to provide for our first responders,” Hall said.
According to Hall, DEFT is planning to purchase boxes containing two 4-mg doses, at $50 per box.
When Commissioner Dr. Rick Watkins asked if there was an increase in use in the county, Hall answered, “Absolutely…and we’ve seen a trend going up.”
“We’ve had to use it in our parking lot,” Hall added. “So, it’s regular.”
Records show that (at least) 87.5 mg of naloxone was administered in January alone — more than half of that administered (168.5 mg) in 2021 and more than the first three months of 2022 combined (75 mg).
However, the numbers gradually increased throughout last year, with dosages totalling 712.9 mg. Three months — July, October and November — saw the usage of more than 90 mg each.
Click here to read more about naloxone usage.
There are currently no available records for February-June of this year.
Data from the office of the Chief Medical Examiner show Richmond County had 30 fentanyl-positive deaths from December 2021 to November 2022 at a rate of 67.7 per 100,000 — the third-highest rate in the state.
The county also had the second-highest rate of drug overdose emergency department visits in the state last year (206, with a rate of 459.5), surpassed only by Robeson County (609, with a rate of 466.2).
Click here to read more about the deaths and overdoses.
“We’ve had to expand the utilization or access,” Hall said. “For example, in the past, our child welfare workers did not have to carry Narcan, but we are now having to carry Narcan due to children in the building and potential overdoses.”
The repository would be available to the volunteer rescue squads, law enforcement, Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services.
Hall said the naloxone will be ordered based on use and the law and rescue agencies will have to turn in documentation, adding that Emergency Services Director Bob Smith will be helping to keep track of the inventory.
Naloxone has a shelf life of about a year, Hall added.
“The only thing I like about this resolution is it keeps the price tag off the taxpayers,” said Commissioner Andy Grooms. “But I think it’s incredibly sad that we give this money — that we’re supposed to use to break the cycle and come up with programs to help people out — and the other grants to pay for Narcan just disappear.”
Grooms has previously stated that he would not support any program that involves distribution of syringes.
The county is set to receive $4.8 million over an 18-year period as part of the opioid settlement. As of March, $592,992 had been allocated, with another payment scheduled for this summer and subsequent funds distributed annually.
Grooms suggested that the board “pressure” state lawmakers for the General Assembly to pick up the tab for naloxone because purchasing this amount each year over the term of the settlement would cost “right under a million dollars.”
“I know that we need it for our first responders, because they have to come in contact with this stuff,” Grooms continued, adding that he’s seen videos online of officers passing out from overdoses while trying to collect evidence. “I hate to even vote for it … it’s just going to sustain the problem.”
DEFT is currently accepting program grant proposals. Click here to read more.
The group Steve’s Wings will be hosting its third annual Overdose Awareness Rally on Aug. 19.
