Robeson County will receive more than $16.4 million through 2038 from national opioid settlements. 

Like other local governments in North Carolina, Robeson County commissioners must spend the money on efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. The county has gotten about $4.8 million since 2022, when the money began to be distributed. 

The Border Belt Independent looked at how the county spent the money through 2024. Spending plans are made public at ncopioidsettlement.org.

2022

  • $162,500 to Robeson County Emergency Services to distribute naloxone to drug users, buy a vehicle for the post-overdose response team, and buy a mechanical robot to educate students and teachers about early drug intervention

2023

  • $181,000 to South East Area Transit System (SEATS) to buy a conversion van to take people with opioid use disorders to treatment or work and provide vouchers so some clients can ride for free
  • $133,680 to Robeson County Department of Social Services for peer support specialists and for employees to attend NC Opioid Summit 
  • $151,569 to hire a nurse to provide medication-assisted treatment and to fund a recovery support coach
  • $180,000 to the Robeson County Health Department to send staff to NC Summit on Reducing Overdose, to fund a peer support specialist, and to stock in-house pharmacy for naloxone for emergency services workers 
  • $125,000 to Sail Initiative and Breeches Buoy Addiction Medicine Service to fund peer support specialists and addiction medicine services for patients at UNC Health Southeastern 
  • $88,000 to the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition for naloxone distribution and a syringe program 
  • $39,668 to PAWSS for the “Let’s Talk Recovery” support group, housing vouchers for people released from jail, and jail exit kits for people with opioid use disorder
  • $114,000 to Southeastern LIfe Center for transportation services led by peer support specialists
  • $61,405 to UNCP-Southeastern Prevention and Addiction Recovery Resource
  • Center (SPARC) to evaluate programs supported with opioid settlement funds in Robeson County
  • $116,000 for Recovery Courts of Robeson County for peer support specialists
  • $32,475 to Tae’s Pathway for a licensed clinical addiction specialist 
  • $120,500 to Robeson Health Care Corporation for a facilitator to organize community events; a peer support specialist; and naloxone distribution 

2024

  • $116,000 to Recovery Courts of Robeson County for peer support specialists
  • $32,475 to Tae’s Pathway for a licensed clinical addiction specialist
  • $97,500 to Robeson Health Care Corporation for a peer support specialist and naloxone distribution
  • $78,016 to UNCP-Southeastern Prevention and Addiction Recovery Resource Center (SPARC) for preliminary strategic planning
  • $51,984 to Robeson County administration for an opioid settlement coordinator 
  • $82,303 to the Robeson County jail for treatment support, including a licensed clinical
  • addiction specialist and care navigator