Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a roundtable discussion with community members and leaders at the ADAMH Board of Franklin County to discuss addiction and mental health strategies and resources in Franklin County.
“We know the pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental health and we know it’s made the addiction crisis worse. We’re working to get resources to communities around Ohio, and conversations like today’s help inform this work – the best ideas don’t come from Washington, they come from you all here in Ohio,” said Brown. “We need reforms and investments to support mental health workers and expand options for people – from acute inpatient services, to counseling and support in our schools and community health centers.”
The roundtable discussion focused on efforts community leaders are making to combat the addiction crisis in Franklin County. This includes implementing harm-reduction strategies; the launch of 988 crisis hotline – an effort funded by the American Rescue Plan; and the Columbus and Franklin County Addiction Plan, which aims to decrease overdoses and overdose deaths by 15 percent, and decrease cases of infectious disease by 10 percent.
Drug overdose deaths have significantly increased since the pandemic began. According to the Ohio Department of Health, there were 5,017 overdose deaths in the state in 2020, a 25 percent increase over 2019. And nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 107,600 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021, the highest yearly recorded number.
“ADAMH is grateful for the opportunity to bring providers and individuals on the front lines to share with Senator Brown what addiction and recovery looks like in our community,” said Erika Clark Jones, CEO, ADAMH Board of Franklin County. “Effectively addressing addiction requires continued partnership with all levels of government along with community advocates, and our federal policymakers remain a critical partner in this fight.”
Original source can be found here.
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