Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announces $100 million to prevent overdose deaths

OHIO — Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director LeeAnne Cornyn have announced $100 million in federal funding to support statewide efforts to combat opioid use disorder and prevent overdose deaths.

The funding, part of the fourth round of State Opioid and Stimulant Response (SOS) grants, was received through the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The SOS 4.0 grants will assist local organizations in offering prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and long-term recovery services for individuals struggling with opioid or stimulant use disorders.

“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.”

The announcement comes as Ohio has seen a substantial drop in overdose deaths for two consecutive years. In 2023, the state reported a 9% decline, far exceeding the national average of 2%.

Of the $100 million, over $68.7 million will be distributed to county Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) boards and community-based providers.

OhioMHAS will also allocate funding to ensure access to life-saving naloxone and other community resources across the state.

The SOS 4.0 funding supports priorities such as reducing overdose deaths, increasing access to treatment, preventing youth substance use, and promoting harm reduction practices.

“This funding is vitally important to supporting our ongoing work to prevent and reduce overdose deaths in our state,” said OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn.

“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.”

For more information about Ohio’s SOS grant activities, visit OhioMHAS’s website.