Ohio Spending Millions from “Rainy Day Fund” to Fight Opioid Crisis

“Rain rain, go away and come again another day. Boys and girls want to play, so rain rain go away.” In this analogy, the rain is the opioid epidemic that is currently down pouring on the entirety of our country. Addiction and alcoholism are more prevalent today than ever. The days have finally arrived where we wake up and there is no refuting there is some sort of a problem. We cannot just turn our backs to the pharmaceutical genocide that is taking place across the nation anymore. It’s blatantly right in our faces and can’t be ignored.

Ohio is finally using $200 million of its estimated $2 billion Rainy Day Fund to channel some resources in a desperate attempt to prevent more deaths occurring across the board. The opiate crisis is something of catastrophic proportion that will affect future generations if not nipped in the bud as soon as possible. With morgues overflowing and addictions risings, the opioid epidemic seems to be completely unstoppable at this point. When there’s a fight to be had, we can’t lose hope. It may be a long road ahead, but we can do everything in our power to slow the chemical grim reapers from ruining the lives of loved ones.

Comfortably Numb

When really taking a step back and cataloging the facts, it’s blatantly obvious addicts and alcoholics are growing rapidly in numbers as more people begin to binge on the idea of euphoria and escaping their painful realities. You see, the problem with drugs is that they are too strong and are everywhere. Plain and simple. The narcotics specifically have changed in chemical format and access. At the rate alcoholic thinking is increasing today, nobody is safe. Those that are considered normal and not even on the spectrum STILL have to deal with friends and family afflicted.

Brothers and sisters plagued with this disease of alcoholic thinking are dropping dead left and right.  The disease of addiction ropes the individual into chemical dependency and/or forming other habits that can be harmful to a person’s health and actually is often the demise of many as Ohio is consistently seeing. Alcoholic thinking convinces the person to seek harmful patterns and behaviors despite the detrimental results that follow because of poor choice making.

It takes this strong mental hold that negatively collides with most positive things in our lives.  2016 was a rough year for addiction and Ohio was at the top of that list. Ohio overdose rates have only increased even more dramatically so far in 2017. With people dying left and right, it’s safe to say we have a dilemma on our hands.

In Need of an Opiate Umbrella

Our government has made several minor attempts throughout the years to try and contain the outbreak of opioid abuse across the nation. Ironically, in the most recent years, opiate prescriptions have been written less and less but the problem continues to increase.  The CDC and DEA have dropped new laws with guidelines for medical personnel and how they have to go about prescribing such pain killing medications. You would think the prescription writing would have gone down.

The sad truth that follows with that is the number of people turning to heroin in recent years cutting their heroin with the synthetic opiate such as Fentanyl. This, in turn, is causing more deaths as well as overdoses. Alcoholics and addicts will do whatever they need to for the end result of euphoria and escapism.

Fortunately, the state of Ohio, as well as Missouri, has finally gotten fed up with it and is doing what it can instead of remaining silent. These two states have both started up lawsuits against the following pharmaceutical companies:

•         Purdue Pharma
•         Endo Health Solutions
•         Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and subsidiary Cephalon
•         Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals
•         Allergan

This is just the beginning of a nationwide recovery against the pharmaceutical industry and the chemical dependency ever growing state by state.

Avoiding the Chemical Monsoon

Using the 10% of Ohio’s Rainy Day Fund will provide opportunities for addiction relief and treatment according to Senator Joe Schiavoni. The finances being used to support chemical dependency will help to create treatment and mental health services, detoxification facilities, as well as more law enforcement and first responders to help aid in fatal situations.

$90 million will go specifically to institutions and increasing the capacity of various facilities strung across the state, while the other $10 million will look at be funded into data collection and records for future use. Each county in Ohio will be required monthly to present figures as to help understand the impact still being had as time continues on.

Some of the money used will create bills that help to regulate insurance for those that are dependent on medications meant to assist in recovery from opiates; such as Suboxone or Methadone. We are able to admit there is a problem that is taking everybody out but it is time to finally accept it. Having to accept something you don’t like can put anybody’s feathers in a ruffle. Addiction and alcoholism don’t give you a choice. They force you to take the facts as they come and there isn’t a pause button to this movie. The funding has been provided and the troops have been rallied. It’s time for people and the state to take initiative for the state of the people.

Choose Sunshine Instead of Rain

Life likes to sneak up on people but addiction and alcoholism grab you up by the ankles and flip your whole world upside down. It gets old quick- but there are alternatives to being chemically dependent. If you or a loved one has been struggling with getting a firm grasp on sobriety and need detoxification, please call1-800-481-8457 or visit oarcstaging.wpengine.com. Our teams of specialists are waiting by to help figure out what options are best for sending your life is a comfortable direction that you can proudly stand behind.