Kaptur Welcomes $100,000 Award for Erie County to Combat Opioid & Heroin Overdoses, Addiction

Federal HHS Grant Equips Rural Communities with Emergency Tools

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) welcomed news today that Erie County has been awarded $100,000through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rural Access to Emergency Devices-Opioid Overdose Reversal Grant Program. This funding will assist trained licensed healthcare professionals at the Erie County Health Department in purchasing and disseminating naloxone and opioid overdose reversal devices that can rapidly reverse the effects of an overdose and reduce the overdose mortality rates in rural areas.

“Addiction is a disease, and members of our community are suffering,” said Rep. Kaptur. “Those who are in the grip of addiction deserve the same access to care that is available to anyone else who gets sick in this country. Treatment is also the most efficient and cost-effective way to help families and communities respond to addiction. In rural areas, the greatest challenge is getting the appropriate medication to someone who has overdosed as fast as possible in an effort to save their lives. This award even takes treatment a step further by requiring Erie County’s healthcare professionals to refer these patients to substance abuse treatment centers where their care will be delivered by a team of providers.”

“This grant funding will safe guard the residents and visitors to our community,” said Janet Mesenburg, R.N., Director of Nursing for the Erie County Health Department. “It increases the services available to fight the opioid epidemic, reversing the negative impact and consequences of addiction and is part of the continuum of care.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people in rural communities face an increased risk of exposure and of overdosing on opioids. The Rural Opioid Overdoes Reversal (ROOR) Grant Program was developed to respond to the special needs of rural communities in addressing the threat of opioid and heroin overdose.

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