BC 2018 03 19 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 19, 2018 (Regular Meeting) Page 3494 Richard Koch, County Attorney, reported the proposed resolution supporting legal action regarding the opioid crisis declares there is an opioid crisis in Cabarrus County and the causes of the crisis to be a public nuisance. Mr. Koch further presented information regarding law firm selection and presented a proposed engagement letter for the recommended law firm(s). Mike Downs, County Manager, read the resolution aloud. Chairman Morris commented on the opioid crisis in the County and encouraged the public to read the book Dreamland by Sam Quinones. Commissioner Shue commented on the impact the opioid crisis has had nationally as well as locally. UPON MOTION of Vice Chairman Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Shue and unanimously carried, the Board approved the resolution supporting legal action regarding the opioid crisis. Resolution No. 2018-07 RESOLUTION DECLARING THERE TO BE AN OPIOID CRISIS IN CABARRUS COUNTY and DECLARING THE CAUSES OF THE CRISIS TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE WHEREAS, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners ("Board") has the statutory authority pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 4153A-121 to take actions necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of Cabarrus County; and WHEREAS, the Board has been made aware of the existence of a significant number of cases involving opioid abuse, addiction, morbidity and mortality in the County; and WHEREAS, the Board has also been made aware of the impacts of opioid abuse, addiction, morbidity and mortality on the citizens and residents of the County and of the impacts on services provided by the County to its citizens and residents, including but not limited to human services, emergency medical services, public health services through the Cabarrus Health Alliance, law enforcement and emergency services; and WHEREAS, there is significant evidence to suggest that manufacturers and distributors of opioids have aggressively marketed their sale to physicians under the guise that prescribing these opioids is medically necessary for virtually any ailment that causes pain and with the assurance that prescribing large doses of opioids creates little or no risk of addiction; and WHEREAS, such tactics if proven true are violations of various federal and state laws designed to monitor and control the dispensing of opioids and constitute tortious acts creating liability of such manufacturers and distributors to the County and its citizens and residents for the physical and financial harm caused; and WHEREAS, in addition to the prescribing of opioids as described above, whether lawful or otherwise, there is significant evidence to suggest that a large number of such prescribed opioids get diverted to persons who use them but for whom such drugs have not been prescribed and who take such drugs recreationally and often to support an addiction; and WHEREAS, the financial impact on the County from these circumstances is substantial, particularly in view of the fact that a significant number of persons addicted to opioids and the family members they support are uninsured or underinsured and rely on the provision of County services without reimbursement to the County; and WHEREAS, apart from the financial impact,- there is a human impact resulting from these circumstances on the parents, spouses, children, siblings and friends who witness the suffering, and sometimes the loss of life, of a loved one, not to mention the loss to the community of the gifts and talents of such persons; and