(Columbus, OH)—Governor John R. Kasich and Attorney General Mike DeWine received notification from Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, announcing the designation of Adams and Scioto counties as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA).
The designation will enable the counties to receive federal resources to further the coordination and development of drug control efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement officers in Southern Ohio and allow local agencies to benefit from ongoing HIDTA initiatives, working to reduce drug use and its consequences across the United States.
"This is great news for Southern Ohio. We're in attack mode when it comes to liberating our communities from illicit opiate use and the addiction and death that follow. The HIDTA designation means we can marshal even more resources to fight this battle for our citizens, and for that we are grateful," said Governor Kasich.
"When I was with Director Kerlikowske for a town hall meeting in Portsmouth in July, I spoke with him about the need for Scioto and Adams counties to be designated as HIDTA. The prescription drug problem in these counties is serious and deadly, and I am pleased that with this designation, we will have another law enforcement tool in order to draw on more federal resources as we continue to coordinate our efforts to fight prescription drug abuse and trafficking," said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. DeWine was instrumental in expanding the HIDTA program when he was a member of the U.S. Senate.
Adams and Scioto counties will join 11 other Ohio counties, including Cuyahoga, Fairfield, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Lucas, Mahoning, Montgomery, Stark, Summit, and Warren, as part of the Ohio HIDTA.
– 30 –
Media Contacts:
Lisa Hackley: 614-466-3840
Rob Nichols: 330-760-7582