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After too many years and too many damaged lives, Ohio leaders have succeeded in holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid-abuse epidemic by securing $808 million in a settlement that gives Ohio new resources to help undo the damage and strengthen our state’s fight against substance abuse. More than $400 million from the settlement are set aside for community-based projects in every corner of the state.

With settlement dollars ensured to come to Ohio over 18 years, the responsibility now comes to us to make certain these funds are used wisely—with some set aside for the future and others distributed fairly and effectively into every corner of the state. That’s important, because the opioid epidemic has never been confined to one place or one group of people. Opioid abuse and other forms of addiction are an undiscriminating, statewide evil that strikes cities, villages and rural communities of every size and level of income. By any standard of fairness, Ohio’s settlement dollars must be available to every community that can use them, regardless of size or status.

After a portion of the settlement funds are set aside for state and local governments, the remaining 55% (more than $440 million) is being administered by the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, a private, non-profit, non-government corporation established to ensure equal, transparent and locally driven distribution of settlement dollars for community recovery efforts. By using a private foundation in this way, it also ensures that the funds cannot be redirected for a different use at a later time.

The 29-member OneOhio Recovery Foundation board, appointed by various state officials as well as leaders from every region of the state, will oversee the process to fairly and efficiently make sure funds are both invested to help future generations of Ohioans and also shared statewide to support organizations engaged in treatment, prevention and recovery efforts.

Almost every Ohioan has been impacted in their family, neighborhood or workplace by abuse and addiction. The OneOhio Recovery Foundation is bringing together people from every part of Ohio to work on tackling addiction in communities where its damage is being felt the most. Properly managed, these funds can last as long as Ohio does. Hopefully, however, our work is completed much sooner. Ohio recovers as one. Let’s come together as a state in the important work.