Meigs County joins pilot opioid program, Ohio START

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that Meigs County is now the newest county to join a pilot program created to serve families harmed by parental opioid abuse in southern Ohio.

A total of 19 counties are now participating in the Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment, and Reducing Trauma) program.

Attorney General DeWine announced the creation of Ohio START last month. The program will provide specialized victim services to children who have been abused or neglected due to parental drug use.

“We welcome Meigs County to the program and look forward to helping them provide important victim services to children impacted by parental opioid addiction,” said Attorney General DeWine. “Children are often the silent victims of this epidemic, and they deserve the best possible support and care.”

Ohio START will also provide drug treatment for parents of children referred to the program.

Because Meigs County is now participating in Ohio START, Attorney General DeWine allotted an additional $233,750 in Victim of Crime Act grants to the program. The Public Children Services Association of Ohio, which is administering the grants on behalf of each county, will now receive a total of $4,829,000 to launch the southern Ohio pilot program across all 19 counties.

Other counties participating in the program are: Adams, Athens, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Fairfield, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Hocking, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton.

If shown to be successful, Ohio START could expand to more counties in other regions of the state.

More information on Ohio START can be found on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.