Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, together with Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director LeeAnne Cornyn, made a significant announcement of a $100 million in federal grants meant to strengthen the fight against opioid addiction and lower overdose mortality across the state. The funding represents a vital component of Ohio’s all-encompassing plan for addressing the drug crisis that has seriously affected many local areas.
The newly acquired funds, part of the fourth installment from the State Opioid and Stimulant Response (SOS) grants, have been secured through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These money are specifically meant to help local businesses offering a range of services, including treatment, long-term recovery for people struggling with opioid and amphetamine use disorders, prevention, and harm reduction.
“In Ohio, we’ve put into action one of the nation’s most comprehensive and aggressive strategies for fighting substance use and preventing overdose deaths – and these SOS grants are a key piece of the puzzle,” said Governor DeWine.
“We are empowering our local partners to advance their work to protect communities and families from the devastating consequences of opioids and other substances. Ohio’s overdose death rate has started to decrease significantly in recent years, and our goal is to use these grants to continue this encouraging progress.”
With Governor DeWine recently citing a substantial drop in overdose deaths across the state, a pattern sharply different from national statistics, Ohio’s efforts seem to be generating results. With a 9% drop in overdose deaths in 2023, the state significantly exceeded the 2% national drop.
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Along with community-based providers, the distribution of the $68.7 million from the SOS 4.0 grants will help county Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) boards, thus strengthening their capacity to handle this public health issue. OhioMHAS also intends to work with other state authorities to guarantee that naloxone, among other life-saving drugs, are easily available all over Ohio.
“While the data is trending in the right direction, we’re not out of the woods yet. Fentanyl remains a serious threat to our communities, and that’s why we are committed to thoughtfully investing these resources in projects that make a real difference, and ultimately save lives,” said OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn.
The goals for the SOS 4.0 funding are strategically aligned with Ohio’s overarching objectives, which include reducing unintentional overdose deaths, increasing access to treatment for substance use disorders, preventing substance use among youth, enhancing recovery support services, promoting responsible prescribing practices, and integrating harm reduction strategies across the state.
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With this significant financial infusion, Ohio’s continuous efforts to properly address the opioid crisis should be strengthened, therefore assisting in reducing the damage resulting from drug use and addiction in communities throughout the state. The emphasis remains firmly on building safer, healthier surroundings for all people as Ohio keeps using these resources.
