Buckeye Reporter

Grants amounting to over $1.2 million are being distributed among eight Ohio counties to support addiction treatment for inmates in jails, announced Attorney General Dave Yost today. This initiative is part of a $60 million allocation in opioid settlement funds aimed at reducing fatal overdoses in Ohio's correctional facilities over the coming years. A recent USA Today report highlights substance abuse as a leading cause of death in the state's jails, with at least 70 inmates having died since 2020.

"The opioid crisis thrust county jails into the role of de facto addiction-treatment facilities, placing an unfunded burden on Ohio's sheriffs," remarked Yost. "These grants will provide relief to our jails as they manage the added responsibility of treating substance abuse. I’m grateful to every sheriff and deputy in Ohio, as they have adapted admirably to the evolving challenges of drug addiction."

The Opioid Remediation Grant Program, overseen by Yost's office, provides county jails with up to $200,000 annually. These funds aid in hiring addiction-services coordinators or contractors to offer treatment for opioid and other addictions. Counties with jails can also apply for a $50,000 grant to acquire medications and other essentials for inmates undergoing opioid withdrawal.

So far, grants have been awarded as follows: Ashland County received $114,788, Erie County $177,516, Medina County $50,000, Richland County $250,000, Summit County $187,200, Trumbull County $250,000, Washington County $144,470, and Wyandot County $95,252.

Sheriff Paul Sigsworth of Erie County emphasized the importance of addressing addiction within jails to mitigate crime rates. His county plans to use its grant in partnership with Bayshore Counseling Services to enhance addiction-treatment services for inmates. Sigsworth noted, "Many of those who are incarcerated have substance-abuse issues. Those who are able to overcome their addiction issues with the assistance of treatment services funded by this grant will – hopefully – not commit future criminal offenses."

Similarly, Ashland County Sheriff Kurt Schneider expressed the importance of these grants in helping inmates create long-term recovery plans, stating, "All too often, our inmates are left standing at the exit doors wondering how, where and when they will continue getting help, and now we can assist them by coordinating a plan prior to their release from jail. My hope is that each of them will continue seeking assistance in their recovery after their release to better their lives and avoid future run-ins with the law."

The deadline for 2025 grant applications is set for December 1, 2025. An application form is available online.