Ohio's jails have a problem with addiction, and the state is funneling some much-needed funds to tackle the issue head-on. More than $1.2 million in grants are being distributed to eight counties in the Buckeye State, per the announcement by Attorney General Dave Yost. This money is just the first bite of a much larger pie - a $60 million opioid settlement set to roll out over the coming years to reduce the horrendous number of fatal overdoses that Ohio jails witness. The recent announcement by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost cited at least 70 deaths since 2020.
It's clear that the state's jails, having fallen into the unwelcome role of addiction treatment centers, need all the support they can get. Yost himself mentioned that the aim is to ease this "unfunded burden on Ohio’s sheriffs." These grants are poised to provide the kind of relief that might help these facilities manage the tricky business of treating substance abuse. In his own words, he's "grateful to every sheriff and deputy in Ohio," as reported by the Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.
As part of the funding efforts, the Opioid Remediation Grant Program is set to award up to $200,000 annually to each qualifying county jail to invest in hiring an addiction services coordinator or a contractor providing similar overdose-biting services. There's also an additional $50,000 per county jail available, aimed at funding medication and supplies for the nasty business of helping inmates go through opioid withdrawal. These grants, so far, have been handed to counties including Ashland, Erie, Medina, and Trumbull, with amounts ranging from $50,000 to a cool quarter million.
In Erie County, Sheriff Paul Sigsworth is rolling up his sleeves to use the funds in partnership with Bayshore Counseling Services in Sandusky, beefing up addiction treatment services for those behind bars. "Many of those who are incarcerated have substance-abuse issues," he told Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, adding that effective treatment could hopefully reduce future offenses. Ashland County Sheriff Kurt Schneider chimed in, saying that these grants enable them to help inmates coordinate a solid plan for recovery even before they step out of jail. "All too often, our inmates are left standing at the exit doors wondering how, where and when they will continue getting help," he observed, as reported by USA Today.
For those counties yet to receive a piece of the grant pie, the application window stays ajar until Dec. 1. The grants are part of Ohio's continued efforts to staunch the flow of substance abuse in its correctional facilities. Interested counties can find the application form through the attorney general's website.
