JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS MORE THAN $333 MILLION TO FIGHT OPIOID CRISIS

More than $3.2 Million Will Support Efforts to Combat Drugs and Crime

in the Northern  District of Ohio

The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs announced awards of more than $333 million to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. More than $3.2 million will help public safety and public health professionals in the Northern District of Ohio combat substance abuse and respond effectively to overdoses. OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan made the announcement during a visit with local, state and federal officials in West Virginia, one of the states hardest hit by the epidemic.

“The opioid crisis has destroyed far too many lives and left too many Americans feeling helpless and hopeless,” said PDAAG Sullivan. “This epidemic—the most deadly in our nation’s history—is introducing new dangers and loading public health responsibilities onto the public safety duties of our law enforcement officers. The Department of Justice is here to support them during this unprecedented and extremely challenging time.”

With more than 130 people dying from opioid-related overdoses every day, the Department of Justice has made fighting addiction to opioids—including heroin and fentanyl—a national priority. The Trump Administration is providing critical funding for a wide range of activities—from preventive services and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services and research—to help save lives and break the cycle of addiction and crime.

“These dollars will boost the efforts of our law enforcement, prevention, education and treatment efforts throughout northern Ohio,” said United States Attorney Justin Herdman.  “We expect that these grants will save lives and help turn the tide of this multi-generational epidemic. The Department of Justice is committed to our partners here in Ohio and these funds are just one measure of that support.”

The awards support an array of activities designed to reduce the harm inflicted by these dangerous drugs. Grants will help law enforcement officers, emergency responders and treatment professionals coordinate their response to overdoses. Funds will also provide services for children and youth affected by the crisis and will support the nationwide network of drug and treatment courts. Other awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs and support opioid-related research.

The following awards were made to organizations in the Northern District of Ohio:

1. Erie County: $600,000 to encourage and support development of a site-based program.
2. Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lima County: $400,000 to facilitate justice and mental health collaboration programs.
3. City of Cleveland: $750,000 to facilitate justice and mental health collaboration programs.
4. Ashtabula County: $139,111 for Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court.
5. Medina County Drug Court: $500,000 for Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court.
6. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court: $439,924 for Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court.
7. Summit County: $455,471 for Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court.

Information about the programs and awards is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.

The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

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