Ohio's Opioid Crisis: Berea Gets $100,000 From State

BEREA, OH — The Berea Police Department got good news on Wednesday. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced more than $3 million in grant funding would be awarded to 40 police departments throughout the state to help battle the opioid crisis. The Berea Police Department will receive a $100,000 from DeWine's office.

On Facebook, the city of Berea said, "The grant will be used to establish Quick Response Teams, enabling police officers along with paramedics and social workers to intervene immediately following an overdose in an attempt to convince an addict to enter treatment.The grant was awarded to Berea in partnership with Olmsted Township, Bedford and Newburgh Heights, who are all partners in Berea’s Safe Passages Program."

The $3 million grant pot was created in the new state budget. DeWine's office oversaw the distribution of the funds to police departments and law enforcement groups throughout the state. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Berea-Middleburg Heights newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

Quick Response Teams will send experts and law enforcement to visit overdose survivors immediately after an overdose. The team will offer counseling and other resources to the addicted person. The hope is that the Quick Response Teams will reduce the rate of overdose deaths by decreasing the number of repeat overdose victims.

“There is so much good work going on to fight this opioid epidemic and with this new grant money, we can make even more of a difference, as we all work together to save more Ohioans,” said DeWine in a statement. “This opioid fight is challenging, but we can continue to make progress.”

DeWine announced the grant recipients at nearby Strongsville, which just announced its own comprehensive opioid crisis program.

“I am optimistic that the local initiative being launched by the Strongsville Police Department will make a difference in the opioid crises,” said Strongsville Mayor Thomas Perciak in a statement. “I am so proud that the faith community, business community and local government have partnered in this effort. And I appreciate the work being done by Attorney General Mike DeWine to make such local programs a reality.”

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