U.S. Attorney Dena J. King has announced that six counties in the Western District of North Carolina will receive $6,817,676 in federal grants to address issues related to opioids, stimulants, and other substances. These funds are intended to support local treatment programs.
The Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administered these grants under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program. The funding aims to help communities with prevention, diversion, treatment, and recovery needs for individuals affected by substance use disorders.
According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2023," with 81,083 attributed to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
"The funding allocated to Western North Carolina will strengthen local efforts to fight the opioid crises and its impact on our communities," said U.S. Attorney King. "These grants further our commitment to work with our local partners to support public health and help build safe and healthy communities."
The following counties received funding:
- Catawba County was awarded $1.3 million for its Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (L.E.A.D.) and Medicated Assisted Treatment (M.A.T.) programs.
- Gaston County received $1,219,877 for services provided to children and families in foster care due to parental drug use.
- Henderson County obtained $1,299,000 for its Recovery Community Center.
- Jackson County was granted $998,952 for a comprehensive program targeting overdose crises.
- Transylvania County got $999,947 for its Bridging Reentry: Expanding Access to Treatment and Holistic Care (BREATH-C) program.
- Wilkes County received $999,900 for a program increasing access recovery support services.
For more information on BJA's various funding opportunities or upcoming webinars about grant opportunities visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding.