DEAR EDITOR:

I urge the Trumbull County Commissioners, celebrating the recent arrival of $2.5 million in opioid settlement funds, to listen to others and spend this money wisely. It should not be used to supplement current agencies facing budget shortfalls, as a recent newspaper article appeared to indicate.

It should be used primarily for education and prevention efforts. Not so long ago there was this push to “arrest our way” out of the problem and it failed mightily. Communities across this country are blessed that overall overdose death numbers are declining and I gather there are multiple reasons for this decline, including the increase in available Narcan, improved and expanded treatment programs, harm reduction emphasis in our communities and the use of prevention / education programs.

“Addiction” is the problem. We can arrest drug dealers, build walls, tariff other countries and blame them for our problems, etc., but we will still have a problem in the United States with addiction. Trust me when I say that the drugs will get here because it’s a matter of “supply vs. demand.”

Can you imagine a community where young people don’t lack basic needs, have a strong foundation and family structure, mentors and social opportunities giving them the ability to engage with others? When we can start early with our children, identify those in need of the basics and share a consistent message about the hazards of drugs we have a chance of making a big difference.

Let’s spend those dollars toward law enforcement and other prevention agencies providing evidence-based prevention programs, in all of our school districts K-12. When the $2.5 million is gone, that shouldn’t mean the end of the program. However, that always seems to be the case in northeast Ohio that good things come to an end when Washington or Columbus can’t help.

JEFF ORR

Captain (retired), Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office; former TAG Law Enforcement Task Force commander

Warren