The Courier Op-Ed By Foundation Board Member Mircea Handru
OneOhio Recovery Foundation Region 17 Board Representative Mircea Handru authored the following op-ed in the Findlay Courier. You can read the original op-ed here.
As a longtime resident of Tiffin and northcentral Ohio, I've witnessed firsthand the ravaging impact of the drug abuse epidemic that has swept across our region in recent years. Now driven to even more tragic heights by growing opioid-drug abuse and addiction, this is a crisis that leaves no one untouched as it devastates individuals, families, workplaces and entire communities.
That’s because substance abuse is a disease that impacts not only those directly suffering from addiction but also their families, friends, employers, and communities at large. The ripple effects of this epidemic are profound, leaving no aspect of society untouched. And for that reason, no aspect of society can afford to stay out of the struggle to bring this crisis to its knees. Only through collaboration and unified effort by our entire community can we hope to make meaningful progress in combating this epidemic and helping its victims recover.
A key element in spurring this collaboration is the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, a private, non-profit organization established in 2021 by state leaders to oversee the distribution of a portion of the funds from Ohio’s opioid lawsuit settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.
As executive director of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties, I am honored to represent the interests of those four counties and four neighbors (Crawford, Hancock, Hardin and Wood counties) on the Foundation board.
The Foundation’s first-ever regional grantmaking process is now underway, marking a significant milestone in our fight against addiction. Organizations on the frontlines of Ohio's addiction crisis can now apply to secure funding for their critical work in prevention, treatment and recovery.
With as much as $51 million available in this initial round, the Foundation's grants can be true game changers in our fight against addiction. However, this impact will only be realized if grant funds are put to work effectively and by a wide assortment of community organizations. It is incumbent upon all of us to spread awareness about the Foundation's grant process and actively encourage applicants to apply for grants that can help our communities move forward.
The road to recovery will be long and challenging, but it is a journey we must undertake together. By harnessing the significant resources of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation and applying them to innovative, evidence-based interventions, we can begin to turn the tide against the scourge of opioid addiction, move more of those addicted toward successful recovery and pave the way for a brighter future.
