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Opioid Settlement Funds
About the Opioid Settlements
North Carolina is part of a historic $26 billion agreement that will help bring desperately needed relief to communities impacted by opioids. These funds will be used to support treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and other life-saving programs and services in communities throughout the state. North Carolina’s Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan lays out concrete strategies to advance prevention, reduce harm, and connect people to the care that they need. More information can be found on the NC Opioid Settlements webpage here: https://ncopioidsettlement.org/
NC MOA Link
Specific Strategies Link
Richmond County has received opioid settlement funds according to national settlement agreements with companies engaged in the manufacturing, distribution, and dispensing of opioids and drug distributors. The allocation, use, and reporting of funds stemming from these national settlement agreements are governed by the Richmond County Board of County Commissioners following the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the State of North Carolina and local governments. The county commissioners have delegated authority to the Richmond County Drug Endangered Family Taskforce (DEFT) to recommend expenditures of opioid settlement funds.
The DEFT hereby publishes this Request for Proposals (RFP) and anticipates $150,000.00 in opioid settlement funds for up to $75,000.00 to fund program types specified below (Exhibit A). Such funds will support programs or services that serve Richmond County persons with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or any co-occurring Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or mental health condition for the state fiscal year 2026-2027, beginning on or after July 1, 2026. Each applicant can apply for up to $75,000.00. Using these funds in this county requires a local match of the amount indicated above.
Proposed programs or services should target opioid and/or substance use disorder, addiction treatment, recovery support, and drug interventions.
Eligibility: Local Public and Government Agencies, local public/private schools, 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporations/Organizations, Private For-Profit Providers/Organizations, and Local Housing Authorities
Instructions:
To apply for FY 2026-2027 DEFT Opioid Settlement Funds, you must:
- Attend a mandatory pre-application meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the Large Classroom in the Richmond County Human Services complex at 125 Carolina Street in Rockingham, North Carolina. Designees are acceptable, and more than one representative may attend.
- Please complete the application packet and email it to Dr. Tommy Jarrell at tommy.jarrell@richmondnc.com. Include a completed budget and all applicable documents in the email.
- Please print and submit four (4) hard copies of the completed budget and all applicable documentation to Dr. Tommy Jarrell by mail or hand delivery to the indicated addresses below.
| Mail: Richmond County Human Services Attn. Dr. Tommy Jarrell, DEFT Coordinator P.O. Box 518 Rockingham, NC 28380 | Hand Delivery: Richmond County Human Services Attn. Dr. Tommy Jarrell, DEFT Coordinator 125 Caroline Street Rockingham, NC 28379 |
4. Deadline: Monday, February 16, 2026 by 5:00pm
Application Documents:
Budget: Budget Form. This form opens into a read-only Excel file, which you should download, save to your computer, and complete.
Application: Application Form. This form opens into an Adobe PDF, which you should download, save to your computer, and complete. The budget page is for example only; please use the budget form provided separately.
All applications will be scored by the Funding Committee using this rubric: Scoring Rubric
Conflict of Interest Statements, Agency Conflict of Interest Policy, and proof of 501(c)(3) status are required for each application if applicable to your agency, person, or business. Private profit/non-profits are required to submit proof of No Overdue Tax forms.
NOTE: For additional information or technical assistance about applying for DEFT Opioid Settlement Funds in this county, please get in touch with Dr. Tommy Jarrell at tommy.jarrell@richmondnc.com or 910-997-8400
EXHIBIT A
HIGH-IMPACT OPIOID ABATEMENT STRATEGIES
In keeping with the National Settlement Agreement, DEFT opioid settlement funds may support programs or services listed below that serve Richmond County persons with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or any co-occurring Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or mental health condition.
As used in this list, the words “fund” and “support” are used interchangeably and mean to create, expand, or sustain a program, service, or activity.
DEFT will support evidence-based addiction treatment consistent with the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s national practice guidelines for the treatment of opioid use disorder – including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) with any medication approved for this purpose by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – through Opioid Treatment Programs, qualified providers of Office-Based Opioid Treatment, Federally Qualified Health Centers, the treatment offered in conjunction with justice system programs, or other community-based programs offering evidence-based addiction treatment. This may include capital expenditures for facilities that offer evidence-based treatment for OUD. (If only a portion of a facility offers such treatment, then only that portion qualifies for funding, on a pro-rata basis.)
See more information at Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)
DEFT will fund evidence-based recovery support services, including peer support specialists or care navigators based in local health departments, social service offices, detention facilities, community-based organizations, or other settings that support people in treatment or recovery, or people who use drugs, in accessing addiction treatment, recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, or other services or supports they need to improve their health or well-being.
See more information here: Recovery Support Services - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)
DEFT will fund programs offering recovery housing support to people in treatment or recovery, or people who use drugs, such as assistance with rent, move-in deposits, or utilities; or fund recovery housing programs that provide housing to individuals receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for opioid use disorder.
See more information here: Recovery Housing Support - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)
DEFT will fund programs offering employment support services to people in treatment or recovery, or people who use drugs, such as job training, job skills, job placement, interview coaching, resume review, professional attire, relevant courses at community colleges or vocational schools, transportation services or transportation vouchers to facilitate any of these activities, or similar services or supports.
See more information here: Employment Related Services - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)
DEFT will fund programs, services, or training to encourage early identification and intervention for children or adolescents who may be struggling with problematic use of drugs or mental health conditions, including Youth Mental Health First Aid, peer-based programs, or similar approaches. Training programs may target parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health or human services professionals, or others in contact with children or adolescents.
See more information here: Early Intervention Programs - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)
DEFT will support programs or organizations that distribute naloxone to persons at risk of overdoses or their social networks, such as post-overdose response teams, programs that provide naloxone to persons upon release from jail or prison, emergency medical service providers or hospital emergency departments that provide naloxone to persons at risk of overdose, or community-based organizations that provide services to people who use drugs. Programs or organizations involved in community distribution of naloxone may, in addition, provide naloxone to first responders.
See more information here: Naloxone Distribution - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)
DEFT will support post-overdose response teams that connect persons who have experienced non-fatal drug overdoses to addiction treatment, recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, or other services or supports they need to improve their health or well-being.
See more information here: Post-Overdose Response Teams - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)
DEFT will support pre-arrest or post-arrest diversion programs, or pre-trial service programs, that connect individuals involved or at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system to addiction treatment, recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, prevention, or other services or supports they need, or that provide any of these services or supports.
See more information here: Criminal Justice Diversion Programs - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)
DEFT will support evidence-based addiction treatment, including Medication-Assisted Treatment with at least one FDA-approved opioid agonist, to persons who are incarcerated in jail or prison.
See more information here: Addiction Treatment for Incarcerated Persons - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)
DEFT will support programs that connect incarcerated persons to addiction treatment, recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, or other services or supports they need upon release from jail or prison, or that provide any of these services or supports.
See more information here: Reentry Programs - North Carolina Opioid Settlements (ncopioidsettlement.org)