Roane County is honored to announce it has received an award for Excellence in the Application of the Opioid Litigation Principles. These principles, crafted by a coalition of organizations across the substance use field and expert faculty from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, represents a set of evidence-based strategies designed to guide state and local policymakers on effective utilization of the national settlement funds.
This award recognizes Roane County’s exemplary adherence to the following Principles:
1. Spend the Money to Save Lives
2. Use Evidence to Guide Spending
3. Invest in Youth Prevention
4. Focus on Racial Equity
5. Develop a Fair and Transparent Process for Deciding Where to Spend the Funding
The Principles are detailed in a comprehensive report coordinated by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health providing in-depth insights and practical examples to assist jurisdictions in their effective efforts to address the opioid crisis.
In April 2023, Roane County established the Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee, tasked with providing recommendations to the county commission for the proper distribution of available opioid settlement funds. Chaired by Roane County Executive Wade Creswell, the committee is a diverse assembly of over 25 active members including local service providers, employers, and residents with lived experience. These dedicated individuals convene monthly to develop collaborative and data-driven approaches to assist the county in effectively spending opioid settlement funds.
To continuously address and respond to the complexity of the overdose crisis, the committee uses a phased approach to prioritize and structure efforts, ensuring detailed and evidence-based funding recommendations. To determine “Phase 1” priority areas, the committee worked to identify gaps in local substance use services. A resource mapping project was supported by a partnership with the University of Tennessee SMART Institute and an existing mapping design by East Tennessee State University Addiction Science Center. This collaborative engagement led to the creation of regional recovery ecosystem map that allows the committee to continually track available resources and service gaps. Ultimately, the committee decided that “Phase 1” would focus on enhancing peer support and trauma-informed care.
By December 2023, the committee submitted a detailed “Phase 1” proposal to the county commission, which was unanimously approved. The proposal funds an emergency department recovery navigator to support overdose response, a community peer navigator to support justice-involved individuals with opioid or substance use disorders, and a school-based trauma-informed specialist to work with youth and families at risk or suffering from substance use-related trauma. These three professionals will work closely together across the community to develop a system of care for individuals, youth, and families impacted by opioid and/or substance use-related issues.
Looking ahead, the committee will focus on collective strategic planning to maximize the impact of available settlement and address substance use issues effectively. The committee recently welcomed representatives from one of the largest employers in the county who offer their expertise in strategic planning and communications support. This collaboration, along with others and the outstanding community engagement, will be crucial as the committee prepares to adopt an official process for evaluating individual funding request.
As the committee evolves, it aims to significantly enhance outcomes related to opioid and substance use in Roane County. The committee hopes that its successful model will eventually serve as a template for other communities nationwide.