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July 16, 2024 (Regular Meeting) Page <br />UPON MOTION of Vice Chairman Shue, seconded by Commissioner Wortman* and <br />unanimously carried, the Board approved the resolution and authorized the County <br />Manager to execute the Agreement upon review and approval by the County <br />Attorney. <br />Resolution No. 2024-26 <br />RESOLUTION BY THE COUNTY OF CABARRUS <br />AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF KROGER OPIOID SETTLEMENT AND APPROVING THE SECOND <br />SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS <br />WHEREAS, the opioid overdose epidemic has taken the lives of more than <br />37,000 North Carolinians since 2000; and <br />WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the opioid overdose crisis, <br />increasing levels of drug misuse, addiction, and overdose death; and <br />WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the <br />total economic burden of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States <br />is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, <br />addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement; and <br />WHEREAS, The overdose death rate in Cabarrus County was 34 out of 100,000 <br />people in 2021. This represents 73 people in Cabarrus who died from overdose in <br />that year; and <br />WHEREAS, certain counties and municipalities in North Carolina joined with <br />thousands of local governments across the country to file lawsuits against opioid <br />manufacturers, pharmaceutical distribution companies, and chain drug stores to <br />hold those companies accountable for their misconduct; and <br />WHEREAS, a settlement has been reached in litigation against the Kroger <br />Co. ("Kroger") as well as its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, and directors <br />named in the Kroger Settlement; and <br />WHEREAS, representatives of local North Carolina governments, the North <br />Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and the North Carolina Department <br />of Justice have negotiated and prepared a Second Supplemental Agreement for <br />Additional Funds (SAAF-2) to provide for the equitable distribution of the <br />proceeds of these settlements; and <br />WHEREAS, by joining the settlements and approving the SAAF-2, the state <br />and local governments maximize North Carolina's share of opioid settlement <br />funds to ensure the needed resources reach communities, as quickly, effectively, <br />and directly as possible; and <br />WHEREAS, it is advantageous to all North Carolinians for local <br />governments, including Cabarrus County and its residents, to sign onto the <br />settlements and SAAF-2 and demonstrate solidarity in response to the opioid <br />overdose crisis, and to maximize the share of opioid settlement funds received <br />both in the state and Cabarrus County to help abate the harm; and <br />WHEREAS, the SAAF-2 directs substantial resources over multiple years to <br />local governments on the front lines of the opioid overdose epidemic while <br />ensuring that these resources are used in an effective way to address the <br />crisis; <br />NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cabarrus <br />County hereby authorizes the County Manager or County Attorney to execute all <br />documents necessary to enter into opioid settlement agreements with Kroger, to <br />execute the SAAF-2, and to provide such documents to Rubris, the Implementation <br />Administrator. <br />Adopted this the 16th day of July, 2024. <br />/s/ Stephen M. Morris <br />Stephen M. Morris, Chairman <br />Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners <br />ATTEST: <br />/s/ Lauren Linker <br />Clerk to the Board <br />(E-8) County Manager - Opioid Settlement Strategic Funding Plan Resolution <br />Page 14 <br />