The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office has received a grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) to establish a Medication Assisted Treatment (M.A.T.) program at the Rockingham County Jail. The program will help inmates suffering from Substance Use Disorders. The amount awarded through this grant to the Rockingham County Jail is $473,002.00.
The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office submitted an application for this competitive state grant in April 2024. The goal of establishing a M.A.T. program is to help reduce the effects of withdrawals from heroin, fentanyl, and other opioid-based drugs for inmates. This program will also provide additional mental health services for individuals suffering from substance use disorder, along with continued services and support post-incarceration.
The Rockingham County Jail will collaborate with the Rockingham County Department of Health and Human Services, Southern Health Partners, the Rockingham County Health Department, the Rockingham County District Attorney’s Office (District 22), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Daymark Recovery Services of Rockingham County, and Rockingham County Emergency Services on establishing, implementing and operating this new M.A.T. program.
“First of all, I want to thank our grant writer, Lt. Kevin Suthard, for a job well done in writing this grant,” said Sheriff Sam Page. “I would also like to thank the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for awarding the Rockingham County Jail this funding. I understand that a number of other Sheriff’s Offices across North Carolina also submitted requests for this grant funding, so we are fortunate to have been selected. Last but not least, I want to thank all of our partnering agencies. Working together, we all share the same goal of getting individuals with substance abuse disorders on the road to lifelong recovery and back on track to being productive members of our communities.”
