(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today led a statewide emergency meeting – “Ideas that Work – Fighting the Drug Epidemic in Ohio” – to help leaders in Ohio’s counties combat the drug epidemic in our state.
"Ohio is facing the worst drug epidemic in my lifetime," said Attorney General DeWine. "The human toll, the increased crime, and the overall community impact of this epidemic are devastating. We must work together to find – and share – effective solutions.”
Nearly 800 attendees who represent sheriff’s offices, police departments, state and federal investigative agencies, emergency medical services groups, public safety directors, county coroners, treatment providers, probation and parole leaders, addiction and mental health experts, prosecutors and judges attended the conference to hear about innovating programs and ideas that are working and resources that are available.
Topics covered at the emergency meeting included:
- Naloxone: Why emergency medical personnel carry naloxone, the immediate effect it has, and the long-term effect is has on people in recovery when they’re given a second chance.
- Addiction in Jail: New ways some law enforcement agencies are handling the issue of detoxing addicts in jail.
- New Partnerships: How law enforcement is doing business differently, partnering with others, and helping those in addiction get out.
- Drug Task Forces: How Ohio’s drug task forces are dealing with drug investigations and going after dealers.
- Investigative Tools: How using OARRS, the State Board of Pharmacy online prescription drug database, can prove invaluable in drug investigations.
- Crime Scene Training: How some law enforcement agencies are now treating drug overdose scenes as crime scenes and the training that’s needed.
- Resources: How the Ohio Attorney General’s Heroin Unit Outreach Team and other state resources can help communities with solutions.
Since 2013, the Ohio Attorney General’s Heroin Unit has worked to confront the drug problem across the state. The Heroin Unit includes the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), the Special Prosecutions Section, and the Outreach Team.
“In 2014, we lost three to four Ohioans every day to unintentional drug overdoses from heroin,” said Attorney General DeWine. “Today we took a huge step forward in the fight against drugs in our communities. I am hopeful that together, we can continue to make a difference. It’s a daily fight.”
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