The Fayetteville City Council is allocating $163,800 of its opioid settlement funds toward a new training initiative for police officers, marking the latest investment in the city’s multi-year strategy to address the opioid crisis.
The funds, approved on Nov. 10, will support the Fayetteville State University Operational Readiness for Police Officers Course, a four-hour, online, self-paced training designed to equip Fayetteville police officers with practical strategies for responding to individuals affected by opioid use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions. The course emphasizes de-escalation, connection to services, and increased referrals to the city’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program.
The training is part of a broader effort to use opioid settlement funds to mitigate the damage caused by the opioid epidemic. North Carolina helped negotiate more than $50 billion in national settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers; the state is expected to receive $1.4 billion in settlement funds over 18 years. The agreements not only provide funding but also require sweeping industry reforms aimed at preventing future public health crises.
Fayetteville joined those national settlements and is projected to receive $3.74 million through 2038. So far, the city has received about $1.3 million and has programmed $671,300 for specific initiatives.
“We want to be intentional in our efforts to ensure their continued operation, and so not all funds are deployed as soon as they are received,” said David Scott, Fayetteville’s communications manager.
Past Investments: Diversion, Recovery, and Harm Reduction
The city’s largest investments to date have focused on diversion and recovery. In August 2023, the council approved $202,000 to launch a LEAD program in partnership with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC). Another $104,000 was allocated in June 2025 to expand the program.
LEAD is a pre-booking diversion initiative that allows law enforcement to redirect individuals engaged in low-level drug or sex work offenses to community-based services instead of jail. According to a 2023–2024 impact report, the program had supported 17 new participants, made 35 referrals for wraparound services, and facilitated 60 additional linkages to care for individuals not eligible for LEAD but still in need of support.
The report highlighted one participant who was previously unhoused and engaged in panhandling, and now has stable housing and employment. “LEAD was able to address the barriers preventing this person from accessing care by providing transportation to treatment, as well as covering the costs associated with supportive recovery housing,” the report states.
In October 2024, the city allocated $201,500 to Myrover-Reese Fellowship Homes, which operates three recovery residences in Fayetteville, serving up to 42 individuals. The facilities provide housing and support services aimed at reducing relapse and promoting long-term recovery.
Rising Overdose Deaths and Continued Caution
Despite ongoing efforts, overdose deaths in Fayetteville are once again on the rise. According to the city’s third-quarter report—covering January through September—there were 34 overdose-related fatalities in 2025, up from 22 during the same period in 2024. The increase follows two years of decline, with deaths dropping from 50 in 2022 to 32 in 2023.
In contrast, both Cumberland County and the state saw fewer overdose deaths in 2024. Countywide totals fell from 190 in 2023 to 141 in 2024, while statewide deaths dropped from 4,442 to 3,060, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
“In addition to responding to these overdoses, there is always a concern and personnel use extreme caution to make sure they are not exposed to fentanyl,” Scott said. “The FPD will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners to address the issues that contribute to overdoses and identify those persons responsible for the sell and distribution of fentanyl in our community.”
Fayetteville’s efforts are part of a broader regional response. Cumberland County is set to receive more than $31.8 million in opioid settlement funds through 2038. So far, the county has spent $1.3 million and plans to invest $4.3 million over the next four years to support various organizations, according to the county’s website.
Government reporter Rachel Heimann Mercader can be reached at rheimann@cityviewnc.com.
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