WAYNE COUNTY, NC – The Wayne County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved two key measures aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid crisis, including participation in a new settlement agreement and the creation of a countywide post-overdose response team.
During their recent meeting, commissioners voted to adopt a resolution allowing Wayne County to opt into the latest opioid settlement involving multiple pharmaceutical distributors under a parent company known as Remnant. County officials said the agreement is part of the broader national opioid litigation efforts and will provide additional funding outside of the North Carolina Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
To participate, the county must formally opt in by May 4. The total funding amount has not yet been determined, as it will depend on how many local governments join the settlement. Officials noted that the City of Goldsboro has also been invited to participate, which could increase the overall funding available to the area.
Commissioners then approved a second resolution authorizing the use of opioid settlement funds to establish a Wayne County Post-Overdose Response Team, often referred to as a PORT program.
The initiative will be fully funded through opioid settlement dollars and will not require county funding. The plan includes hiring four full-time employees, along with startup costs such as a response vehicle, medications, and essential equipment.
Officials said the program will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a paramedic serving as a central coordinator to respond to opioid-related incidents. The role will focus not only on overdose response but also on connecting individuals to treatment, addressing behavioral health needs, and engaging with the homeless population affected by addiction.
Leaders acknowledged that while progress had been made in reducing overdose deaths in the past, recent trends show the crisis is worsening again locally and nationwide.
“We’re right back in stopping people from dying from opioids,” EMS Director, Dave Cuddeback said during the meeting, emphasizing the urgency of the program.
The proposed PORT team represents a long-term strategy, with officials requesting a three-year commitment to ensure the program has time to take effect. County leaders also noted they have consulted with state experts and modeled the program after successful efforts in other communities.
Commissioners expressed strong support for the initiative, citing its proven success in neighboring counties and its potential to save lives in Wayne County.
Both measures passed unanimously.
