An arrangement of prescription Oxycodone pills in New York. Figures from a show fewer people used heroin for the first time compared to the previous year, and fewer Americans misusing or addicted to prescription opioid painkillers. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Localities around Ohio are just beginning to see the money won in the OneOhio National Opioid Settlement hit their accounts, and leaders can now decide how to best fight the opioid epidemic in their communities.

Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties received a combined $525,200 out of $8.6 million distributed across the state, according to a news release from Gov. Mike DeWine. This money can be used to expand the availability of treatment for individuals affected by substance use disorders, develop and enact substance use prevention strategies, provide substance use avoidance and awareness education, decrease the oversupply of opioids and support existing addiction services.

LOCAL REACTION

Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti said the commissioners will likely discuss this funding at their staff meeting Thursday to narrow down what it can be used for, after the legal department looks at the restrictions.

“I believe there is a problem in Mahoning County and every other county in Ohio,” Rimedio-Righetti said. “It is good that the drug distributors are taking some responsibility for the death and hardship they have caused. Any money will help.”

Trumbull County Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said these guidelines are restrictive, but for good reason. He said this money should be spent on alleviating the opioid epidemic as directly as possible.

“We’re looking at a three-pronged approach,” Cantalamessa said. “That’s education and prevention; recovery and support; and a long-term strategy for abatement.”

He said it is just as important for the region to eliminate immediate threats as it is to come up with a long-term plan to prevent the epidemic from continuing to hurt residents. In Trumbull County, $240,000 will be allocated among 13 subdivisions, $216,200 will be distributed among 10 different subdivisions in Mahoning County and $69,000 will be distributed among five subdivisions in Columbiana County.

Payments of less than $500 will go back to the respective county, DeWine’s news release notes. In Mahoning County, this includes Coitsville Township, the village of Lowellville and the village of Beloit. In Trumbull County, this includes Braceville Township, Vienna Township and Fowler Township. Perry Township is the only subdivision in Columbiana that this applies to.

WORK TOGETHER

The governor’s office said it encourages these localities to work with county leaders to ensure that needs related to the epidemic are addressed.

Additional funding also will be available through the OneOhio Recovery Foundation. The foundation is divided into 19 regions. Mahoning and Trumbull counties make up region seven. Columbiana County is in region 11.

“Establishing the OneOhio Recovery Foundation is the next step in enhancing Ohio’s prevention, treatment and recovery support services. The investments made by the Foundation will create an opportunity for local communities to plan for and sustain efforts that address the ever-evolving drug epidemic,” said DeWine. “There is not one part of the state that hasn’t been impacted by the opioid crisis, and this is critical to beginning the healing process.”

WHO DECIDES

A 29-member board will be able to decide which localities should receive further funding, according to RecoveryOhio.ohio.gov. Five members are selected by the governor, one by the attorney general, four by the state Legislature and one is selected from each of the 19 regions. Fifty-five percent of the money Ohio gets from the lawsuit will go to this foundation, 30 percent will go to local governments and 15 percent will go to the state to implement statewide programs.

The lawsuit was filed in 2017 by then-Attorney General DeWine. Of Ohio’s 88 counties, 73 took part, which encompasses about 85 percent of the state’s population.

This is just the first round of payments that will continue for the next 18 years. According to the lawsuit, Trumbull and Mahoning counties will receive about $3 million each over this time.

Many communities in the Mahoning Valley will still receive funding, according to the settlement, even though they did not in the first round. This includes Niles, Milton Township and Canfield city.

Though he said he expects his city to receive money, Niles Mayor Steve Mienkiewicz said he has not been made aware of a schedule for future payments.

The OneOhio National Opioid Settlement has provided these funds to Mahoning Valley communities.

MAHONING COUNTY

• Mahoning County, $138,573

• Youngstown, $49,710

• Boardman Township, $12,174

• Austintown Township, $7,692

• Struthers, $2,183

• Campbell, $1,787

• Poland Township, $1,281

• Sebring, $680

• Poland, $532

• Jackson Township, $509

TRUMBULL COUNTY

• Trumbull County,

$175,006

• Warren, $30,422

• Girard, $6,041

• Liberty Township, $5,954

• Howland Township, $4,344

• Newton Falls, $3,154

• Cortland, $3,022

• Hubbard, $2,500

• Champion, $2,451

• Weathersfield, $2,160

• Lordstown, $1,797

• Hubbard Township, $1,323

• McDonald, $741

COLUMBIANA COUNTY

• Columbiana County, $59,588

• East Liverpool, $3,187

• Salem, $3,310

• St Clair Township, $1,451

• Wellsville, $1,086

escott@tribtoday.com