Chatham County residents are being asked to help decide how more than $5.4 million in opioid settlement money gets spent, and county leaders want those opinions on the record. The Chatham County Public Health Department is hosting a community meeting on Thursday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro. The session is free, open to the public, comes with light refreshments, and includes online registration. County staff have drafted a multi‑year plan that would channel the cash into prevention, treatment and recovery support programs.
Details from the county
A June 1 post by Chatham County Public Health on Facebook lays out the basics: the meeting is scheduled for June 11, runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the Agriculture & Conference Center, and will offer light refreshments. The post also shares a short registration link so residents can sign up in advance (register here).
How county officials want to use the money
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners has already signaled how it hopes to steer a chunk of the settlement dollars. A formal resolution dedicates $1.29 million in funding for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 across six focus areas: an overdose‑prevention coordinator position, evidence‑based addiction treatment, recovery support services, early intervention programs, naloxone distribution and recovery housing. Those details appear in the Chatham County government record, which also notes the county is projected to receive roughly $5.45 million in settlement payments through 2038.
Voices from the community
Public health staff and partner agencies have been holding listening sessions in recent months to find out what residents want from prevention and recovery services. Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator Morgan Culver has described the settlement dollars as “a wonderful opportunity to repair the harm caused by the opioid crisis,” according to Chapelboro. County officials say they hope to keep that community‑driven approach going as they refine how the money will be used.
How to attend
The meeting is open to anyone in the community, and organizers are encouraging people to sign up in advance using the registration link included in the Facebook announcement. The discussion will run from 10 a.m. to noon on June 11 at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro. For residents who want a deeper dive into the proposed allocations for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, the full breakdown is available in the Chatham County government record.
County staff note that settlement payments will continue through 2038, so the choices made in rooms like this one could shape local prevention and recovery efforts for years to come. Officials say they are counting on robust public input to help direct the money toward strategies that save lives and expand access to care.
