The UNC Injury Prevention Research Center, in partnership with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and the North Carolina Division of Public Health’s Injury & Violence Prevention Branch, brought together North Carolina county representatives to prepare for newly implementing or expanding an Opioid Settlement strategy. This first session was held on October 30-31, 2024, at the Quorum Center in Raleigh, NC and created space for county-based teams to walk through program planning that aligns with permitted uses of the settlement funds.

Last year, North Carolina was “Recognized for Efforts to Combat the Opioid Crisis and Save Lives” by a coalition of organizations led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and this new Opioid Settlement Academy represents another step forward in the effort to promote evidence-based programs that address the opioid epidemic in North Carolina.

OSA October 2024 Session PhotoThe first day of the Opioid Settlement Academy introduced harm reduction principles and its theoretical frameworks, gave an overview of the settlements, and provided guidance on program planning. The second day focused on effective use of the funds through sessions that walked county-based teams through effectively engaging community partners

This first session of the Academy was a resounding success with over 44 representatives from Nash, Wake, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Ashe, Robeson, Iredell, Lenoir/Greene County (2 counties, one team), Surry, and Johnston Counties.

Academy Contact Information and 2025 Summit Opportunity

  • If you have questions about the Opioid Settlement Academy, please email opioidsettlementacademy@unc.edu.
  • If you have questions regarding NC Opioid Settlement funds or need technical assistance, please reach out to the NCACC’s Opioid Settlement Technical Assistance Team at opioidsettlement@ncacc.org.
  • If you are interested in learning more about what North Carolina is doing to address the opioid overdose crisis we encourage you to attend the 2025 NC Summit on Reducing Overdose. This summit will be held March 18, 2025 – March 20, 2025, at the Raleigh Convention Center.