OneOhio released its first document under Ohio public records law: an outline of its strategic plan for the next three years. Disturbingly, reducing overdose death is not part of the plan. Harm Reduction Ohio believes reducing death should be the No. 1 goal of opioid settlement spending. The deaths of people who use drugs is not acceptable. OneOhio must start involving the impacted population to prevent this type of callous cluelessness from continuing. The post Ohio opioid settlement board: reducing overdose death not part of mission appeared first on Harm Reduction Ohio ..read more

Ohio's two-day, statewide syringe program conference starts next Monday. More than 150 people have signed up for the event at Ohio State University in Columbus. Space for a few more people remain. Harm reduction is growing in talent, influence and impact in Ohio. The post NEW: Complete program for Ohio syringe program conference next week in Columbus appeared first on Harm Reduction Ohio ..read more

The full schedule for Ohio's syringe program conference is now available. The conference will be held Monday-Tuesday, May 22-23, at the Ohio State University. Still time to register for the biggest harm reduction event in Ohio so far. The post Ohio syringe program conference agenda now available appeared first on Harm Reduction Ohio ..read more

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled today that the OneOhio opioid settlement board is covered by public records law. Another court ruled earlier that OneOhio must comply with open meetings law. Together, the two rulings should break government officials efforts to shield Ohio's $1 billion opioid settlement from public scrutiny. Harm Reduction Ohio brought both lawsuits. The post HRO Wins (Again)! Ohio Supreme Court rules opioid settlement board can’t keep documents secret appeared first on Harm Reduction Ohio ..read more

The OneOhio opioid settlement board complied with Ohio open meetings law for the first time today. The board has held more than 30 meetings in violation of open meetings law since being created on May 16, 2022. Harm Reduction Ohio sued to stop the secrecy -- and won. But OneOhio ignored a judge's March 9 ruling. On April 25, the judge issued a temporary restraining order forcing OneOhio to comply with open meetings law. Today, after fighting it for a year, OneOhio complied with the law for the first time. The post Under court order, Ohio opioid settlement board finally complies with open meeti ..read more

Harm Reduction Ohio announced the final list of panels and presentations for Ohio syringe program conference in Columbus later this month. The conference is sponsored by Harm Reduction Ohio, the Ohio State University College of Public Health and Equitas Health. There's still time to register. The post Conference panels announced for Ohio’s syringe program conference on Monday-Tuesday, May 22-23 in Columbus appeared first on Harm Reduction Ohio ..read more

The OneOhio opioid settlement board was ordered to start following the Ohio Open Meetings Act, but a judge denied Harm Reduction Ohio's request that OneOhio be temporarily prevented from spending settlement money because of those violations. A full hearing on the issue is scheduled for July. The post Judge orders OneOhio opioid settlement board to start complying with open meetings law appeared first on Harm Reduction Ohio ..read more

Read the official 15-document from the opioid settlement agreement that outlines how money can be spent. The post How can opioid settlement money be spent? appeared first on Harm Reduction Ohio ..read more

A judge ruled March 9 that the OneOhio opioid settlement spending board was required to follow open meetings law. The board has ignored the ruling and continues to violate the law. On April 12, OneOhio began the process of spending its first $58.3 million settlement payment. All actions taken in violation of the Ohio Open Meetings Act are supposed to be be invalidated. Harm Reduction Ohio asked the judge to block spending before it needs to be invalidated. The post Harm Reduction Ohio seeks to block opioid settlement spending until state board follows law appeared first on Harm Reduction Ohio ..read more

Overdose death rates for White residents of Ohio fell in 2022. Overdose death rates for Black residents increased, pushing the number of overdose deaths of Black Ohioans above 1,000 for the first time ever. The racial gap -- i.e.,, the difference between death rates for White and Black Ohioans -- has never been larger. The post Racial divide in Ohio overdose death rates grow to historic proportions appeared first on Harm Reduction Ohio ..read more