releases: https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-77-million-federal-funds-will-help-combat-addiction-ohio
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-77-million-federal-funds-will-help-combat-addiction-ohio | Portman: $77 Million in Federal Funds Will Help Combat Addiction in Ohio | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Republican | Senate | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Portman: $77 Million in Federal Funds Will Help Combat Addiction in Ohio December 17, 2020 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) praised the announcement today from Governor Mike DeWine, Recovery Ohio Director Alisha Nelson, and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Director Lori Criss on how the state will distribute $77 million in federal State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to help local communities combat Ohio's drug crisis.As Portman announced in August, Ohio received $96 million in SOR funding and today's grants represent a portion of that funding. The SOR program, funded through the 21st Century CURES Act, has been used by states to increase access to naloxone and support access to long-term addiction treatment and recovery services. Portman championed the passage of the CURES law and consistently works to increase the federal funding for the SOR program. Today's SOR grant announcement comes at a time when many communities are suffering from an increase in addiction, overdoses, and the need for behavioral health services due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Portman hasrepeatedlydiscussedthe impact the ongoing COVID-19crisis is havingon theaddictionepidemicand called for aredoubling of effortsto save lives. OhioMHAS will award $58.8 million in grants directly to local county alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services boards and their community partners. OhioMHAS will make the remaining funding available for organizations utilizing innovative approaches for connecting people to care. State Opioid Response funds are vital for Ohio's continued efforts to combat the addiction epidemic, and I'm pleased to have led efforts to create this federal funding stream through the CURES legislation and to help secure this funding for Ohio, said Portman. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges and we are now seeing a heartbreaking surge in overdose deaths. That's why I'm glad this federal funding will make a difference and continue to help save lives throughout Ohio. I will continue to work with my colleagues and Governor DeWine to ensure that our local communities and addiction providers have the resources they need to continue to combat this epidemic. Many communities are seeing an increase in demand for mental health and substance use disorder services as the pandemic continues. The uncertainties of the pandemic intensify the struggle with substance use disorder that many Ohioans face, said Governor DeWine. Through the leadership of the teams at OMHAS in partnership, with the agencies under the RecoveryOhio initiative, we have been better able to meet the needs of Ohioans that are struggling, and federal funding will increase the flexibility of communities to address their specific, unique needs. While addiction and mental illness are a national and statewide crisis, we know that prevention, treatment, and recovery take place in local communities, said Director Criss. This investment marks a true partnership among federal and state government to support local planning and service delivery and improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities across Ohio. NOTE: Senator Portman has led efforts in the U.S. Senate to provide more resources to combat the nation's opioid epidemic. Portman is the author of the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA) that became law in 2016 and provides resources for evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs to help people overcome their addiction. The most recent bipartisan funding agreement actually funded these CARA programs at $647 million, much higher than the authorized amount. Last week, Portman introduced CARA 2.0 which would increase these authorization levels further. In addition, Portman worked to secure $1 billion in new funding for state grants to fight opioid abuse in the 21st Century CURES Act. He's also fought for more overall opioid funding, and helped secure more than $4 billion in new opioid funding over the last few years between CARA, CURES and other opioid programs. Last year, Portman's Combating Meth & Cocaine Act was signed into law giving states more flexibility to use federal funding to address the resurgence of psychostimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |