Governor DeWine announces nearly $5M to combat drug trafficking, prevent substance use disorder
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently announced that two state programs will award a total of $5 million in funding to support local law enforcement's work to combat illegal drug activity and promote substance use prevention and recovery.
The funding is being awarded through Governor DeWine’s RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund and the Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund.
“The work of law enforcement has played a large role in the fact that unintentional drug overdoses in Ohio have decreased for three years in a row,” said Governor DeWine. “We are proud to support local efforts to hold drug traffickers accountable and support recovery from substance use disorder.”
Thirty-two local law enforcement agencies in Ohio will receive a total of nearly $2 million from the RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund. Governor DeWine created the program to support the mission of the RecoveryOhio initiative, which aims to increase substance use and mental health awareness, implement age-appropriate prevention education in schools, connect those who need help with treatment, and promote recovery.
Since 2019, this program has awarded more than $15 million to law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Grant funding will also be used to help officers identify high-level drug traffickers, dismantle large drug trafficking organizations, interrupt the flow of money and drugs from international cartels, and prevent the sale of illegal narcotics.
A full list of RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Funding Awards can be found here.
Governor DeWine worked in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly to secure funding for these grants in the operating budget. The program is administered by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) within the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
Forty law enforcement agencies will receive a total of around $3 million from the Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund. Funding will be used to support drug task forces in their work to prevent drug trafficking, pharmaceutical diversion, and other organized criminal activity associated with the drug trade.
Since 2019, this program has awarded more than $23 million to law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Funds can be used by agencies to investigate drug trafficking organizations and disrupt the drug supply through intelligence gathering, information sharing, and multi-agency coordination. Grants can also be used to support local work to help drug overdose victims and their families through education, support, and treatment options.
A full list of Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Funding Awards can be found here.
The Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund is part of the Drug Interdiction, Disruption, and Reduction Plan that is funded through Ohio's operating budget. The grant program is administered by OCJS.