A local program to help addicts and those suffering with mental health issues is receiving federal assistance.
The Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (ADAMH) board for Union County was recently awarded $72,287 in federal opioid funding through the 21st Century CURES law.
“This is terrific news for Union County, and these new funds will help the community’s efforts to combat the heroin and prescription drug epidemic gripping our state,” U.S. Senator Rob Portman wrote in a statement announcing the grant.
Dr. Phil Atkins, executive director of the local ADAMH’s board, said the money will go to the Wings Support and Recovery center in Marysville to provide certified peer support (CPS). Atkins said CPS is a program that allows recovering addicts or those recovering from mental health issues to help others. He said supporters go through a certification process that involves training and live observation.
“It’s becoming a big thing in Ohio now,” Atkins said.
The ADAMH board already provides about $250,000 annually for certified peer support.
Atkins said Wings already has about a dozen supporters. He said the federal dollars will fund a peer supporter 24 hours a day. He said that will allow law enforcement and other first and emergency responders to direct people in need to support help at any time.
“We are still in the development process,” Atkins said.
He said this year’s federal funding will cover the cost of the program in its entirety. While the funding is a one-time opportunity, Atkins said officials are treating the idea as a pilot program within a larger approach.
“We are working on some real innovations in our emergency response or crisis responses overall,” Atkins said.
He said that if the program is successful, “we will find money to continue to provide the service.”
This is the second year in a row Ohio has received opioid funding through the CURES law that Congress enacted in 2016. Last year, Union County did not receive any funding. Atkins said funding was issued based on a three-tier system. Counties were rated based on the number of county overdoses. Atkins said Union County received the lowest rating “fortunately because we did not have as many overdose deaths as other counties.”
He said the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction, which makes the funding decisions, recognized that this method did leave some worthy programs and some struggling counties unfunded. This year the state added options for lower tier counties. The state disbursed a total of $26 million through local ADAMH boards and statewide initiatives. Atkins credited Portman for helping with funding and said Ohio has been diligent to try to justify that support.
“I think Ohio is working to really show these federal dollars are going to good use, where it is going, what they are doing, so they can continue to advocate for funding,” Atkins said.
The funding originates from the 21st Century CURES legislation enacted in December 2016 that provided $1 billion over two years nationally to fight the heroin and prescription drug epidemic.
Portman urged that opioid funding be included in the CURES package, and the funding awarded to states can be used for improving prescription drug monitoring programs, prevention, training for health care workers, and improving access to treatment for individuals struggling with a substance use disorder.
“I was proud to help secure the opioid funding included in the CURES legislation, and I have seen firsthand how this law is making a difference across our state,” Portman wrote in a statement announcing the Union County grant. “This is another positive step forward, but we must do more, and that’s why I continue to push for common-sense solutions.”