Funding Ohio Counties to fight opioid epidemic

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- An Ohio politician wants a special state fund to aid counties to fight opioid abuse.

Former State Representative Republican Gene Krebs proposed the Equalization Fund yesterday as a way for all 88 Ohio counties to receive more financial aid in the fight against the current opioid and heroin epidemic. C.E.O. of Muskingum Behavioral Health Steve Carrel said any addition to helping address the opioid problem in Ohio is a need.

“Rural Ohio is disproportional hit with the opioid problem. It continues to be disproportionately hit. It is a humongous problem and it’s growing by the day. Centers for disease control and prevention life expectancy in the United States just went down again, I think for the second year in a row. There were two contributors to that, heart disease and overdose,” said Carrel.

Carrel said the new proposal provides some opportunities for the local area. He said one problem a lot of employers have is they can’t find drug free employees and this proposal could help change that.

“There are programs, job development programs, where you can work with people who are in poverty. Teaching them job skills, teaching them life skills, but also at the same time working with them to develop a drug free lifestyle and out of that employers are getting drug free employees,” said Carrel.

The proposal is being taken under advisement at this time. If the Equalization Fund goes through, it will also help fund the development of economic programs or to cover general county expenses.