CONCORD, N.C. — A North Carolina county is seeking feedback on its opioid settlement funds, intended to support states harmed by the opioid crisis.
Cabarrus County is asking residents to complete an anonymous survey on how to prioritize the distribution of millions in opioid settlement funds, so the county can determine the best way to use the funds.
The survey covers areas like barriers to care and funding and the greatest unmet needs in the community.
Cabarrus County is receiving over $20 million of the $1.5 billion being provided to North Carolina.
The county says those dollars will be allocated over an 18-year period.
In a statement, assistant county manager Aalece Pugh says public input is crucial in determining how the money will be used.
“And in turn the future of Cabarrus County,” Pugh said. “We’re asking anyone who has been impacted by the opioid crisis to participate and help us allocate resources in ways that will truly benefit the community."
Some people feel the funds will go a long way with helping those overcoming addictions.
Jason 'Jay' Camp is an addiction counselor at Southeastern Recovery Center in Concord.
Camp has been in recovery for almost six years.
"I used for a very long time," Camp said. "It was hard on me and the people that loved me."
His team is helping others struggling with substance abuse.
"The journey is real for me because I've been through it myself," Camp said.
Camp and his business partners recently opened the recovery center.
"Most of the men and women here have the very same story that I did," Camp said.
But Camp says there's still a long way to go with helping more people fight addictions.
He says the nearly $21 million the county is receiving in opioid settlement funds could help.
"It's hard to put a dollar sign on somebody's life," Camp said. "With access to additional funding you open up a lot of different pathways for people to get care. There's not enough points in somebody's life where true interventions can be made."
Camp says that it's not only about the money, but that removing stigmas about those battling addictions will help get people the treatment they need.
"Changing the dialogue and the stigma that surrounds drug use, alcohol use, substance use in general, because these aren't bad people. These are people in need of extra help and care," he said. "Hopefully I'm able to do something, help provide some help for them. Hopefully, with this money, a lot more people can do the same."
Cabarrus County says the settlement funds must be used to support services like treatment, recovery and harm reduction.