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Butler County Launches Heroin Task Force

Bill Rinehart
/
WVXU

Butler County has opened a new front in the battle against heroin addiction. 

The motherhood and maternity addiction services program will focus on perinatal care for women and children.

Scott Rasmus, executive director of the Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Service Board, says many of the services and programs were already in place, but are now cooperating.

“There is the addition of some recovery services housing and some case management services,” he says.

Women in the program will also receive help finding work, child care, and transportation once they've graduated from the inpatient addiction treatment.

Rasmus says the opioid addiction crisis has hit Butler County hard,  as it has in many parts of the region. He says the death toll from overdoses has nearly doubled in the last two years.  But he says several different agencies are working together to make a difference.

“I think we already are obviously with this program, and also the other community mental health providers that address addiction issues," Rasmus says. 

“We’re looking for best practices, evidence based practices," Rasmus says. "We’re looking not only statewide but also nationally to support the resolution and to manage this epidemic." 

It’s a coordinated effort between public and private agencies.  According to commissioner Cindy Carpenter, the motherhood and maternity addiction program will fill some gaps in existing services. 

“Gaps in services for education, employment, housing, and child care," Carpenter says. "It will bring together public and private entities that will focus on prevention services, addiction treatment, and recovery housing." 

Much of the $1 to 2 million cost will be covered by the Butler County general fund.

Bill Rinehart started his radio career as a disc jockey in 1990. In 1994, he made the jump into journalism and has been reporting and delivering news on the radio ever since.