Monroe County Sheriff Derek Norman

Thanks to a new grant totaling $600,000 from the Ohio Attorney General’s office, Monroe County will be able to treat drug-addicted inmates in its jail system, said Monroe County Sheriff Derek Norman.

Norman said in a social media post that the sheriff’s department will receive $200,000 per year for three years for the new Monroe County Recovery Program.

“Of this amount, $50,000 per year is specifically allocated for opioid detoxification medications,” he said. “This program will commence with an assessment following an inmate’s booking, with detoxification medications initiated as soon as the inmate begins the detoxification process.

“Throughout both the detoxification period and the subsequent incarceration, each inmate will be under medical supervision.”

He added that addicted inmates will also have the opportunity to be in group counseling sessions at the jail.

“Upon release and return to the community, inmates will be offered access to the Chief Nurse Practitioner for ongoing support and guidance to assist them in maintaining sobriety, should they wish to engage in this service,” he said.

Norman noted the program will be available to all people who are inmates at the jail, not just those who reside in Monroe County.

“The support provided to inmates will begin at the booking stage and can continue for up to two months post-release, contingent upon the inmate’s choice to,” he said.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our nurse practitioner, Tiffany Jones, for her dedication in embracing this objective and bringing it to fruition. Furthermore, I extend my appreciation to the Attorney General’s Office for providing the necessary funding for this essential service,” Norman said.

“This program is a commitment I intend to uphold for our community. While it directly involves the correctional facility, its benefits extend to the broader community. I anticipate that some inmates may not wish to participate and could potentially re-offend; however, I am equally confident that this initiative will provide necessary assistance to other inmates, enabling them to become productive members of our communities.”

In a press release from Ohio AG David Yost, $2.3 million in grants are being disbursed to 13 jails across 18 different counties. This second round of grants make the AG’s total awarded at $3.5 million.

“Each time I tour a jail with a sheriff who has received a grant, I am encouraged to hear how this funding is going to make a real difference in the fight against addiction,” Yost said. “Although a jail is no substitute for a rehab center, these grants will aid recovery and support better outcomes for inmates struggling with substance abuse.”

Yost said his office has $60 million in opioid settlement money to disburse “over the next several years.” The goal is to reduce fatal overdoses in the state’s jails.

“Substance abuse is a leading cause of death among jail inmates in Ohio, accounting for at least 70 deaths since 2020,” according to information from Yost.