Taking action to strengthen Ohio’s addiction response

From 2018 to 2020, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio has cataloged and assessed state-level policy changes and identified strengths, gaps and opportunities for improvement on a range of substance use topics. This final policy brief of the Addiction Evidence Project provides:

• An update on where Ohio stands on addiction-related trends
• A summary of Ohio’s addiction policy strengths, gaps, challenges and opportunities
• A prioritized set of policy recommendations

3 Key findings for policymakers

• Ohio has a strong foundation for future action. Public and private partners from across the state have implemented many policies and programs to address addiction. Strategic investments of opioid settlement dollars can strengthen Ohio’s prevention-treatment-recovery continuum.
• More can be done to prevent overdoses. Changes in the drug supply and other factors have led to more overdose deaths. Intensified prevention and harm reduction strategies can save lives.
• Criminal justice reform is critical to progress. Changes to the criminal justice system can help more Ohioans sustain addiction recovery, employment and housing.

The HPIO Addiction Evidence Project 

The HPIO Addiction Evidence Project provides state policymakers and other stakeholders with tools to:

• Quickly find existing information about what works to address addiction
• Review addiction policy changes enacted in Ohio
• Assess the extent to which new policies align with existing standards and evidence
• Identify areas where Ohio policy can be better aligned with standards and evidence, including potential gaps in Ohio’s response to the addiction crisis

More resources

• HPIO Addiction Evidence Project Fact Sheet: Refocusing Ohio’s approach to overdose deaths
• HPIO Addiction Evidence Project Fact Sheet: Insights on addiction and race
• HPIO Addiction Evidence Project Fact Sheet: Insights on addiction and geography
• Addiction Evidence Project
• HPIO addiction work