Dr. Katie Samuels returned to Burke County as the Opioid Settlement Coordinator in spring 2025, and among the many milestones passed, the county has negotiated a lower purchase price for naloxone kits provided free across the county, established a Post Overdose Response Team (PORT), created a safe space for recovery support, and propelled local partners into implementing opioid addiction treatment programs.
Hiring a peer navigator to connect residents to services and distributing naloxone are two of the recommendations that the Burke County Opioid Advisory Board (OAB) will bring before the Burke County Board of Commissioners during the elected officials regular meeting on Monday.
One of the first initiatives for Burke County’s inaugural Opioid Advisory Committee will be to provide those recovering from overdose a PORT in the storm.
Attorneys general of all 55 eligible states and U.S. territories agreed to sign on to a $7.4 billion settlement from Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson made the announcement Monday. The state’s share is $145.4 million, of which Burke will receive $2.584 million.
Any discussion on how North Carolina counties are allowed to use the money they receive from the national opioid lawsuit settlement will invariably involve Options A and B.
The forum was part of a “reset” for the county in its approach to deciding how best to use Burke’s share of the $1.4 billion awarded the state, which will be disbursed in increments annually until 2038.
The Burke Board of Commissioners made some landmark decisions concerning the county’s battle against the opioid crisis including plans to move forward with a “triage center” that would help those struggling with addiction find the appropriate providers.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein announced a $1.37 billion settlement last week with Kroger in the ongoing string of opioid lawsuits, and more than $700,000 is headed Burke County’s way.
Under the settlement agreement, the grocery chain – which owns Harris Teeter in North Carolina – and its pharmacies have agreed to pay the state $40 million for opioid abatement, Stein’s office said. Payments are expected to begin early next year, and Burke is scheduled to get $713,209.85.
Dr. Katie Varnadoe, the director of behavioral health in Burke County, is spearheading the development of a strategic plan for the county's $24 million share of the opioid settlement. The plan, being created in collaboration with the Community Education Group, aims to guide opioid abatement efforts over the next 3-5 years. V
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a $6 billion opioid settlement by Purdue Pharma, impacting the Sackler family's liability shield. However, this does not affect the $24 million Burke County is set to receive from separate settlements. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein confirmed the funds remain guaranteed, as the Supreme Court's decision only impacts the Purdue case.
Opioid usage in Burke County remains a pressing issue despite a decline in opioid overdose deaths. Burke Recovery and the Burke County Chamber of Commerce collaborated to host training sessions on naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The sessions aimed to educate the community on recognizing the signs of an overdose and administering naloxone effectively. While the monthly opioid-related deaths have decreased significantly, the availability of naloxone has inadvertently led to an increase in opioid usage, with reports of "naloxone parties" where individuals purposely overdose. Naloxone, available in nasal spray and injection form, has become a crucial tool in combating opioid overdoses, with law enforcement agencies and organizations like Burke Recovery providing free distribution of the medication.
National Drug Czar Dr. Rahul Gupta’s flight was delayed, and he didn’t make it to the Burke Community Forum on addiction Wednesday night, leaving Josh Stein to go it alone.
Dr. Rahul Gupta, 54, is a West Virginia native. A graduate of Delhi University, The University of Alabama, and the London School of Business and Finance, he served as Director of West Virginia’s Bureau of Public Health. In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed him Director of the Office of Nat…
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