Stemming Spread Of Opioids: Strongsville Unveils New Programs

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Strongsville Police will unroll a series of new initiatives to battle the opioid epidemic. Police Chief Mark Fender, along with city officials and members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), will officially announce the plans on Wednesday.

Among the new initiatives is a partnership between Strongsville Police and OSHP. As part of that deal, the OSHP will assume primary enforcement and response duties along I-71. That will allow Strongsville officers to concentrate on policing neighborhoods.

The partnership with OSHP will also free up officers to staff the new Community Opiate-Outreach Program (CO-OP). The program will include a "Safe Passages" initiative for individuals seeking assistance for addiction. Those people will be able to walk right into the police station and ask for help.

Another prong of the CO-OP is the Quick Response Team. Police, fire departments, and the Strongsville faith community will send a team of specialists to meet with overdose survivors and their families. The specialists will go over treatment options, referrals, recovery support and other options for people battling addiction. To help fund the team of specialists the city has applied for funding through Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's Opioid Overdose Quick Response Grant Program.

The city is also announcing three other initiatives to stem the opioid epidemic in Strongsville.

• The city will install a drug drop box that will allow individuals to dispose of household prescription drugs that are no longer needed. The drop box will be installed and operated in cooperation with the Cuyahoga County RX drug drop box program.
• Police will prioritize heroin trafficking cases for secondary investigation and prosecution.
• Three addiction awareness, interdiction and treatment forums will be held at Strongsville Recreation Center on Sept. 12, 19 and 26, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. The forums will cover:
  • Part 1, September 12: The Neurobiology of Addiction and how it Impacts the Family System and Society.
  • Part 2, September 19: Available Resources from Family Support Groups and Recovery Groups
  • Part 3, September 26: Addiction and the Criminal Justice and Health Care Systems

Strongsville Police are expected to officially announce these initiatives at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

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