COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio has one of the highest unintentional drug overdose rates in the country.

What You Need To Know

  • The Ohio Council of Churches hosted “Undoing the Stigma: Loving People Who Use Drugs” at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio

  • The event shared information with faith leaders and community members about ways to support someone struggling with substance use

  • Woodland Christian Church's pastor is now planning an outreach ministry to let people who use drugs know the church is a safe space

To help prevent additional lost lives, the Ohio Council of Churches hosted “Undoing the Stigma: Loving People Who Use Drugs” at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. The event featured workshops and speakers to share ways faith leaders can provide support to someone struggling with substance use.

“No one’s exempt from the love of God,” said Ohio Council of Churches Executive Director Rev. Jack Sullivan Jr. “And we want to make sure we do our part to spread that love through programs. To help people know what to do, help their loved ones and people that they know who are using drugs.”

The Rev. Eric Brown, pastor at Woodland Christian Church in Columbus, said the harm reduction techniques taught during the sessions align well with his faith.

“God loves this person in spite of themselves,” he said. “How do we enter into a relationship that is mutually helpful? To both of us and all of us?”

Brown said he wants to mobilize a ministry and reach out to people who use drugs, letting them know his church is a safe space.

“When folks come here, they can get help,” he said. “We don’t have to send them to somewhere else.”

It’s part of a larger message that everyone is welcome

“I want them to know that regardless of the decisions that they make, their sins are forgiven,” Brown said. “And that when people have to make tough decisions, God understands.”