HPIO scorecard highlights impact of Ohio addiction crisis on children, families

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – A new policy scorecard from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio has found that Ohio policymakers can do more to effectively address addiction’s toll on families and children.

In the latest in its series of scorecards detailing Ohio’s policy response to the addiction crisis, HPIO explores parental substance use and its impact on children and families. The scorecard outlines gaps in Ohio’s policy response and opportunities for improvement. 

“Parental substance use can harm children at every stage of development, from preconception to adolescence,” the report found. “Left unchecked, the consequences of addiction and family instability can lead to negative education, employment, health and criminal justice outcomes for children and their communities.”

The release of the scorecard follows new data released earlier this month from the Ohio Department of Health showing that the state’s overdose death rate increased by 6.4% in 2019, following a decline in 2018. 

Ohio Addiction Policy Scorecard: Children, Youth and Families found that Ohio’s sharp rise in drug overdose deaths from 2011 to 2017 was followed by a steady increase in the number of children entering the child protection system. The scorecard shows that Ohio has launched multiple programs to address the needs of children impacted by addiction in their families, but more can be done to keep families together, ameliorate childhood trauma and build resilience.

“Ohio policymakers in recent years have prioritized child welfare, so we are hopeful that recent state and federal reforms have laid the groundwork for substantive changes to the children services system,” said Amy Bush Stevens, a Vice President at HPIO. “While our state has been understandably focused this year on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we also remain engaged in addressing the addiction crisis that has affected so many families.”

The latest release is the fourth in a series of policy scorecards designed to provide policymakers and other stakeholders with information needed to address substance use disorders in a comprehensive, effective and efficient way. All material in HPIO’s Addiction Evidence Project is available here.

For any questions about the brief, or if you would like to talk with HPIO Vice President Amy Bush Stevens or President Amy Rohling McGee, please call or text Nick Wiselogel at 614.530.9918 or email nwiselogel@hpio.net.  

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