COLUMBUS — A revised two-year Senate budget proposal unveiled Monday holds $5 million in grants to help local communities replicate programs like the Drug Abuse Response Teams run through Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp’s office.
It’s part of the chamber’s effort to build on the additional funding that was approved by the House to address the state’s opioid painkiller and heroin addiction epidemic.
The proposed grant program, requested by Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green), was inspired by Mr. Tharp’s DART program, as well as Quick Response Teams set up in communities in Hamilton and Summit counties.
“The thing that strikes me about DART is that it’s not only in the sheriff’s office,” Mr. Gardner said.
“It engages hospitals, mental health centers, and businesses in the community. It does not rely just on government dollars but has significant community involvement as well,” he said.
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“The Senate is saying, ‘We know we can’t provide 100 percent of government funding, but we can help to encourage the development of DART in other places through start-up grants.’ ”
The budget amendment would require Attorney General Mike DeWine to consult with Mr. Tharp’s office as it sets up the matching grant program.
Sheriff Tharp said the DART program began nearly three years ago with two deputies and has grown to a staff of 20 officers.
He said the program has aided nearly 2,300 overdose victims and has a 74 percent success rate of getting people into detoxification and treatment programs. It costs about $850,000 annually to operate. Donations from auto dealerships pay for vehicles, and police departments have loaned part-time officers to the program.
“The program provides a lot of value in helping people get engaged in treatment services as opposed to having them go through the criminal justice system,” said Scott Sylak, executive director of Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services.
The state spends roughly $1 billion a year, much of it through Medicaid, to fight the state’s addiction crisis. The budget as proposed by Gov. John Kasich did not provide for an increase above that, despite worsening statistics on overdose fatalities.
The House budget proposal added $170 million for a variety of related programs, including funds to help counties fight back and to boost support for foster care as more children are removed from homes with addicted parents.
Senate Republicans put their first stamp on the next two- year budget on Monday, making major changes to the plan sent their way by the House.
The Senate provided for a net increase of $6 million on top of the house proposal.
“In general, we know the response to the drug addiction crisis is multifaceted,” Mr. Gardner said. “[DART] is a way to reach people with addiction problems. Rather than just arresting people for drug offenses, we can provide support and help to end their addiction.”
Whether Lucas County might find some additional funding for DART through the grant program remains to be seen.
Mr. Gardner said it would depend on how the program’s rules are written by the attorney general’s office.
Blade staff writer Mark Reiter contributed to this story.
Contact Jim Provance at: jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.
First Published June 13, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
