YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — The fight against the opioid epidemic continues and now state funding is being funneled here locally to combat the crisis.
This week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is taking direct aim at the opioid epidemic with another round of funding to reduce overdose deaths.
“This funding is huge because it will help us with prevention dollars and it will also help pay for recovery housing,” said Duane Piccirilli with the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board.
The federal grant money will support programs that help prevent addiction and cover treatments and recovery services. More than $3 million will go to various organizations across the valley.
“It will allow us to provide some programming in Mahoning County and Trumbull County,” said Darryl Alexander.
Alexander is the Youngstown Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program (YUMADOP) Executive Director.
Governor DeWine recently announced a significant decline in Ohio’s overdose deaths — a 9 percent drop in 2023.