The first major wave of opioid settlement money has landed in Cobb County, with $5.8 million flowing to 10 organizations that provide treatment, prevention, and recovery services across the community.
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved the awards in March 2026, according to a county press release. The funds cover a 2026–2029 cycle and come from a national opioid settlement that will send Cobb approximately $15.6 million in installments over the next two decades.
The scale of need is stark. In 2022, Cobb recorded 143 opioid-related deaths, the third-highest county total in Georgia, according to county data. During a 60-day application window, 36 organizations requested $33 million — nearly six times what was available.
Where the money goes
Harbor Springs Counseling Services received the largest single award, $1,648,942, to expand access to treatment medications and peer support for people who cannot afford care. Davis Direction Foundation's Zoned 4 Recovery program received $1,609,841 for wraparound peer support for people with substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Cobb County Superior Court received $1,258,500 to fund intensive clinical treatment and stable housing as alternatives to incarceration. The Drug Treatment Court is one beneficiary: four participants graduated from the program on Tuesday, June 30, completing an 18-to-24-month voluntary program that combines treatment with judicial supervision.
"Recovery is not easy, but these graduates chose every day to continue moving forward," Drug Court Coordinator Porsha Winfrey said at the June 30 ceremony. "Their success reflects the power of accountability, treatment, and community support working together."
Judge Jason D. Marbutt presides over the program.
Education, youth, and family programs
The Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery at Kennesaw State University received $98,721 to expand outreach and medication-safety education for adults ages 18–25. Highland Rivers Foundation's Mothers Making a Change program received $500,000 to expand residential treatment for mothers with substance use disorder. YouthCentric, Inc. received $324,820 to serve youth ages 14–18.
Other recipients include Cobb County Jail ($174,720 for reentry support), WestCare Georgia ($87,855 for youth early intervention), Cobb Collaborative ($57,394 for family resilience programs), and Life University ($26,820 to study non-pharmacological pain management in the justice system).
What's next
The Cobb County Opioid Abatement Advisory Council, established by commissioners on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, meets quarterly and advises the board on how settlement funds should be spent. The awards followed a two-phase review: first by an independent evaluation team, then by the council.
The county's published funding priorities allocate 42% for treatment, 22% for prevention, 21% for recovery support, and 15% for harm reduction. County officials have said a second funding round is planned, though no date has been announced.
Residents seeking information about future grant rounds or funding priorities can contact the council at [email protected].
