Robbinsville – The annual opioid settlement strategic plan was presented to the Graham County Board of Commissioners at the Dec. 19 meeting.
The board also wrote a support letter for new legislation concerning child trauma from witnessing a drug overdose.
To date
Graham County has received $2,144,392 from the National Opioid Abatement Trust II, according to ncopiodsettlement.org. The total provided was updated Nov. 6, 2023 and includes an 18-year plan showing the amounts the county will receive each year from 2022-38. The plan was used in the Graham County Opioid Settlement Strategic Plan.
The local abatement funds went to each county in North Carolina.
The trust was created from Mallinckrodt plc, a pharmaceutical company that manufactured and marketed opioids – along with other affiliates – but went to bankruptcy court Oct. 12, 2020 in the District of Delaware to address their opioid liabilities.
Mallinckrodt entered into a restructuring support agreement with attorney generals for 50 states and territories, according to nationalopioidabatementtrust.com.
New effort
Also during the meeting, another aspect of drug overdose was discussed: child trauma and new legislation.
Robbinsville resident Tracey Jones asked for a letter of support from the board for “Caleb’s Law,” a felony charge for those who expose children to drugs.
Jones’ 7-year-old nephew followed her to the podium as she told the board her nephew’s story.
On June 27, 2020, Jones’ nephew witnessed his father die from a distribution of fentanyl overdose. Jones’ nephew still experiences trauma from the incident.
Jones is trying to get as many support letters so she can send them to senators and any other official to pass the law.
Jones successfully received the board’s support.
“This board has knowledge of some of the worst conditions children must face even in our small county,” a portion of the letter reads.
“We gladly give our support to anyone that is trying to make a difference in children’s lives.”