Ohio’s battle against opioid addiction and overdose deaths takes a significant financial turn as Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director LeeAnne Cornyn announced the allocation of $100 million in federal grant funding. According to a recent announcement by the governor, this funding aims to fuel the state’s comprehensive strategies to combat the opioid crisis, which includes a range of local initiatives for prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery services. More than two-thirds of the funding, over $68.7 million, will support the county Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) boards and community-based providers, as detailed in a statement obtained by
Governor Mike DeWine’s office
.
The marked decrease in overdose deaths in Ohio has been pronounced in recent years, speaking to the efficacy of existing measures. Governor DeWine revealed that with a 9% decline in overdose deaths in 2023, Ohio had outstripped the national average decrease significantly, which stood at 2%. Obtained from SAMHSA, these State Opioid and Stimulant Response (SOS) 4.0 grants, formerly known as State Opioid Response (SOR) grants, represent the fourth installment of funds distributed across the state in this mammoth effort to turn the tide on the opioid epidemic.
Building on the encouraging trajectory of reduced overdose fatalities, the allocated funds from the SOS grants seek to intensify existing strategies. OhioMHAS will collaborate with state agencies to further disseminate naloxone and implement essential community resources, ensuring the means to combat the crisis are readily accessible. In echoing the dedication to this cause, LeeAnne Cornyn stated, “This funding is vitally important to supporting our ongoing work to prevent and reduce overdose deaths in our state,” in a discourse outlined by
Governor Mike DeWine’s office
. The official outlined the immediate challenge of fentanyl, affirming the commitment to invest thoughtfully in projects that promise real impact and the potential to save lives.
A target has been certainly set by Governor DeWine’s office to not only reduce the incidence of unintentional overdoses but also to increase access to treatment for substance use disorders, prevent youth substance use, and increase recovery support services. Alongside promoting responsible prescribing practices and education efforts statewide, integrated harm reduction practices are on the agenda. In alignment with these priorities, coordinated efforts with Ohio’s RecoveryOhio initiative and statewide partners will ensure that projects supported by the SOS 4.0 funding reflect the nuanced and intersectional approach required to address a public health crisis of this magnitude, aiming to carve pathways to recovery for Ohioans tangled within the grip of addiction.
Visit the official page
here
for more information about the SOS grant activities and the list of awardees.
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