6 days ago
Opioid impact forum set for June 17
A event designed to show the effects of the opioid crisis in Lee County will be held Tuesday, June 17.
The 'Stronger Together: Opioid Impact Forum' will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. that day, according to a release from Lee County Community Support Services.
The event will take place at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, located at 1801 Nash St. The topic will be Lee County's opioid crisis response.
It will include an update on the use of opioid settlement funds and remarks from community leaders.
Community organizations and government partners will have an opportunity to share information about resources and services.
In July 2021, then-Attorney General Josh Stein announced a $26 billion settlement with the nation's largest drug distributors. As a result, the Lee County Commissioners entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the state to gain access to the opioid settlement funds.
Over an 18-year period, Lee County is expected to receive $7.8 million.
Since the initial disbursement of funds in 2022, Lee County has made progress in a variety of ways, including increasing naloxone distribution, entering contracts with eligible providers to help with treatment reimbursement and increasing transportation access, the release states.
Recent data indicated some improvement with the North Carolina's estimated overdose death rate decreasing by 28% from 2023 to 2024. However, there is still progress that needs to be made.
The opioid crisis continues to remain a pressing issue across the county, state and country. For Americans aged 18-44, the leading cause of death is fentanyl overdose. In 2024 alone, an estimated 3,025 North Carolinians and 87,000 people nationwide lost their lives from an overdose.
'Whether you have been directly impacted or simply want to be a part of the change, we welcome and value your presence at this event,' the release states.
