COLUMBUS, Ohio —  The Biden-Harris Administration announced Friday morning that it is putting more than $1.5 billion toward State and Tribal Opioid Response Funding.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio is eligible $100,192,260 in funding from the State Opioid Response funding

  • Project DAWN has more than 420 naloxone distribution sites in 82 of the state's 88 counties

  • Last month, Gov. Mike DeWine announced a $4 million grant that will go toward prevention efforts

The Biden-Harris administration announced it is putting more than $1.5 billion toward State and Tribal Opioid Response funding. Through the Biden-Harris Administration, Ohio is eligible to apply for more than $100 million in funding this fiscal year. This can go to harm reduction, prevention efforts and Naloxone and other opioid overdose reversal medications. 

Overdose deaths have been on a steady decline the past few years. According to Harm Reduction Ohio, Ohio saw a 6% decline in overdose deaths last year compared to the numbers it reported in 2022, with most of the impact seen in the second half of the year. Narcan became available over the counter in the middle of last year, and more state funding went toward prevention efforts. 

Data from Harm Reduction Ohio shows the state recorded more than 5,000 overdose deaths in 2021.  That was the highest number of overdose deaths it recorded in 13 years. Since then, state and federal agencies have been working together to get people the help and resources they need to bring those numbers down. The numbers began declining in 2022 and continued into 2023.

While some health care experts say making things like Narcan over the counter was a step in the right direction, they said that it’s programs like Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone)  that have made the biggest impact. 

“Walking into a pharmacy where there's really no one to speak to that deals with substance use disorder or opioid use disorder,” said Maria Perdikakis, who serves as the vice president of nursing at the Center for Addiction Treatment in Cincinnati. “So you, if they walk into an addiction treatment center, not even CAT, anywhere like that, they you know, there's a little bit more, I'm sure in their eyes, acceptance and understanding of their situation.”

Project DAWN is a network of Naloxone and fentanyl test strip distribution programs that provide opioid overdose education and harm reduction services. There are more than 200 project dawn programs registered in the state.

Perdikakis works with those struggling with addiction and said that while accessibility is a huge barrier, stigma also plays a part. 

“Families have more accessibility as well,” Perdikakis said. “There's, oftentimes families have the stigma that they'll be judged and that it's a moral failing from the family and that kind of thing, so I hope that the public and families and friends of people dealing with addiction can feel a little more at ease now.”

Last month, Gov. Mike DeWine announced $4 million in substance abuse grants that organizations can use to support drug take back programs, purchase Naloxone and fentanyl test strips for first responders, and more. This is part of the Ohio Deflection and Pre-arrest Diversion grant program. Funds are available for the next two years. Funding on the federal level will go toward similar efforts with the addition of increased focus on helping transitional aged youth and young adults. 

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