WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded $4 million to help combat substance use and opioid use disorders in rural communities in Ohio. $3 million comes from HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) and has been awarded across three Ohio grantees, and the remaining $1 million is from HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Psychostimulant Support, split across two grantees.

“Addiction isn’t an individual problem or a character flaw, it’s a disease – a disease that all too often starts in the family medicine cabinet,” said Brown. “Now more than ever, as drug overdoses are on the rise amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we need to be doing everything we can to ensure that Ohio’s rural communities have the resources they need for prevention, treatment, and recovery services.”

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation program helps strengthen and expand substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural areas. Recipients of these funds include:

  • $1,000,000 for the Community Action Commission of Fayette County in Washington Court House
  • $1,000,000 for the OneEighty, Inc. in Wooster
  • $1,000,000 for the City of Portsmouth

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Psychostimulant Support program helps strengthen and expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services for individuals in rural areas who misuse psychostimulants and to enhance their ability to access treatment and move towards recovery. Recipients of these funds include:

  • $500,000 for the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati
  • $500,000 for Adams County

Brown will continue leading efforts to ensure Ohioans have the resources and the investments they need to stay healthy and safe.

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