Hamilton County Heroin Co
Coalition

Strategic Action Plan
Presented to the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners
September 28,
28, 2015

Last Updated: September 28
28, 2015

 TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.

Introduction

II.

Coalition Membership List

III.

Impact Area: SUPPLY CONTROL

IV.

Impact Area: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PREVENTION

V.

Impact Area: HARM REDUCTION

VI.

Impact Area: TREATMENT

VII.

Conclusion and Next Steps

VIII.

Attachments

Page 1 of 18

 INTRODUCTION
Hamilton County and the entire region is suffering from a dramatic uptick in heroin and opiate abuse that is
impacting the public health and public safety of virtually all of our local communities. Analysis of arrest data,
9-1-1 calls, drug-related crimes, individuals seeking treatment, disease diagnoses and other statistics all
reveal that while Hamilton County is not alone in battling the scourge of heroin and opiate abuse, we are
facing an epidemic that requires swift and impactful efforts.
The heroin and opiate epidemic has shown that utilizing only traditional approaches to eradicate drug abuse
won’t be effective without additional coordination between the many entities dealing with its impacts. As a
public safety issue as well as a threat to the health and well-being of our community, Hamilton County’s
response must connect law enforcement with treatment providers, prevention experts with first responders
and public health officials with emergency room doctors.
As the largest metropolitan county in the region, Hamilton County has a responsibility – and a unique
opportunity – to provide regional leadership on this issue. We have been able to take advantage of the
progress already under way in Northern Kentucky and in our surrounding Ohio counties, and we have brought
into the fold the many local entities, organizations and initiatives, large and small, that are working every day
to make an impact in their communities. Specific recognition is due to Interact for Health, which has helped
the entire region with its opioid response in Northern Kentucky and its assistance to Hamilton County.
Without the hard work by the faith-based community in churches and neighborhoods, the loved ones
appearing at their local municipalities’ meetings, and the families printing resource guides in their own
garages, we might not know the full weight of this scourge – and how we can help.
Under the leadership of Commissioner Greg Hartmann and the Board of County Commissioners, the
Hamilton County Heroin Coalition can take to scale Countywide many of the efforts seeing success.
Continued collaboration and coordination is the most impactful way to leverage limited local resources
effectively.

Page 2 of 18

 The purpose of this Strategic Action Plan is to present the guiding, official document for Hamilton County’s
collaborative, action-oriented work that will make an immediate and long-term impact on the heroin and
opiate abuse epidemic in our region. As a major policy priority of the Board of County Commissioners in
2015, and guided by the important work by the Interact for Health Response to the Opioid Epidemic
Workgroup [Attachment A], the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition’s strategies are designed to
comprehensively address this issue through four organized responses:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Supply Control
Prevention and Public Education
Harm Reduction
Treatment

This Action Plan is intended to serve as a living document to be updated regularly as new information is
presented and we continue measuring the outcomes of our efforts.

Page 3 of 18

 COALITION MEMBERSHIP

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Coalition Chair: Commissioner Greg Hartmann
Chief Richard Braun,
Braun Cincinnati Fire Department
Tim Ingram,
Ingram Hamilton County Public Health Commissioner
Jim Schwab,
Schwab President and CEO, Interact for Health
Chief Tom Synan,
Synan Newtown Police Department, Hamilton County Association of Chiefs of Police
Patrick Tribbe,
Tribbe President/CEO, Hamilton County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board
Neil Tilow, President/CEO, Talbert House
Coalition Partners:

Regional Partners:

Ann Barnum, Interact for Health
Butler County
Cincinnati Police Department
Clermont County
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters
Capt. Mike Hartzler, Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine
Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department
Nan Franks, Addiction Services Council
Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy
Mary Haag, PreventionFirst
Warren County
Hamilton County Fire Chiefs’ Association
Deanna Hoskins, Director, Hamilton County Office of Reentry
Dan Meloy, Colerain Township Public Safety Director
Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil
County Coroner Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco
U.S. Attorney Carter Stewart
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Moira Weir, Hamilton County Job & Family Services

Page 4 of 18

 Impact Area: SUPPLY CONTROL

The Problem:
Problem:
The heroin and opiate abuse epidemic, like other widespread substance abuse, has a detrimental impact on
the safety of our communities. The trafficking, sale and use of drugs causes an increase in other crimes,
monopolizes the resources of law enforcement and puts at risk the public safety of our entire County.
• In 2014, 10,000 heroin addicts came through the Hamilton County Justice Center. (Source: Hamilton

County Sheriff’s Office)
• Hamilton County saw 177 heroin-related deaths in 2014. (Source: Hamilton County Coroner’s Office)
• The amount of heroin seized by the Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU) has increased annually since 2012.

Page 5 of 18

 Heroin Coalition Action Steps:
Steps:
• Heroin Task Force Investigators
Led by the Police Chiefs’ Association’s Heroin Task Force,
ten investigators on loan from several law enforcement
agencies in the County and state are utilizing existing
County space to track and investigate heroin-related
incidents, including trafficking, arrests and overdoses.
COST:

$96,970 to provide County space and
equipment for the investigators. A portion of this
cost has been reimbursed through a grant from
the Ohio Attorney General’s office. The cost of
the investigators’ time has been donated by the
individual law enforcement agencies.

• Greater
Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center
The County has provided the necessary staff members and technology upgrades to equip The Greater
Cincinnati Fusion Center with the ability to track heroin overdoses, arrests and related crimes in an
attempt to track heroin and opiate crime “hot spots” in the region.
COST:

$ 45,676 to fund the salary of the Fusion Center analyst, a County employee.
•
Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU)
The Regional Narcotics Unit is a multi-jurisdictional drug
task force comprised of narcotics agents from the Hamilton
County Sheriff’s Office, Cincinnati Police Department, Green
Township Police Department and Anderson Township.
RENU investigates criminal organizations and individuals
responsible for the illegal trafficking of controlled
substances in the region, and assists local, state and
federal law enforcement agencies as needed.
COST: $0 additional to Hamilton County.

• Advocacy for legislative changes at the state and federal levels.
The Coalition and its partners will advocate for stronger laws at the state and federal levels to allow for
additional arrests and stiffer penalties for those convicted of trafficking and supplying heroin and
opiates, especially for those incidents of overdose deaths.
COST:

$0 to Hamilton County.
Page 6 of 18

 Impact Area: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PREVENTION

The Problem:
Problem:
The families and loved ones of opiate abusers continue to struggle with resources and information to help
connect individuals to treatment and support services. A multitude of organizations in the region providing
treatment-related services can be confusing for families
to navigate and the courts system and law enforcement
officers have equal frustration with connecting users to
treatment and assistance.
Additionally, in the past several years, the number of
organizations dedicated to educating youth and
preventing drug abuse before it begins have dwindled,
due in large part to the economic downturn and the
reduction in funding to continue such programs.
Effective, impactful messaging and education to the
families and youth in Hamilton County is critical to our
prevention efforts.
• The average age for youth in Greater Cincinnati to try
alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or prescription pills is
13.3 years old. (Source: PreventionFIRST! 2014

Student Drug Use Survey, [ATTACHMENT B])
•

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse,
young people are highly susceptible to combining
opioids with other drugs, leading to a much greater
risk of overdose.

Page 7 of 18

 Heroin Coalition Action Steps:
Steps:
• Interact for Health “Response to the Opioid Epidemic” [ATTACHMENT A]
The ROE Workgroup in March 2015 completed a comprehensive report regarding the state of the heroin
and opiate crisis in Hamilton County and potential strategies to be pursued to impact the epidemic.
COST:

$0 to Hamilton County.

• Hamilton County Heroin Coalition Web site: www.injecthope.com
The Coalition developed a Website for local residents to learn more about heroin and opiate abuse, find
treatment and assistance, and get involved in combating the epidemic. The messaging and design for
the Website was created by Landor, and the Website has been launched by Unstoppable Software.

COST:

$35,000 for Landor messaging and design.
$12,400 for Website creation, hosting and maintenance.

• Regional Public Awareness
Awareness Campaign
Utilizing the Landor design and messaging, the Coalition will launch a regional media campaign to alert
residents to the availability of treatment and resources, direct them to the Website for more information
and help educate the public on heroin and opiate abuse.
A resource guide, brochure and other printed materials will be developed for distribution throughout the
County, including at Hamilton County Job & Family Services and other County facilities.
Those overdose victims revived by first responders in the County will be given a small card and other
information to pursue treatment.

Page 8 of 18

 Additionally, Landor’s design and messaging will be shared with surrounding counties (Butler, Warren
and Clermont), as well as the Northern Kentucky partners working to address the heroin and opiate
epidemic. The Coalition will work with regional partners to pursue a media campaign across the Tri-State
that will be most cost-effective with the broadest impact. The campaign strategies and cost will be
determined based on grants and funding secured by the Coalition.
COST:

$50,000 for printing services for a local resource guide, brochure, the overdose revival
resource cards, etc.

• Teen Empowerment Program at Norwood Middle
Middle School
The Talbert House will continue its Teen Empowerment Program [ATTACHMENT C] at Norwood Middle
School this year through a grant from Governor Kasich’s “Start Talking” initiative last year as well as
assistance from the Mental Health Board. The program identifies youth organizers to help raise
awareness about drug and alcohol abuse.
COST:

$0 to Hamilton County.

Page 9 of 18

 Impact Area: HARM REDUCTION

The Problem:
Problem:
The heroin and opiate abuse epidemic impacts the quality of life and public health of the entire community.
Overdoses, including those that result in death, are increasing dramatically across the state. Repeated drug
abuse also creates additional health problems in users and their families, including needle-related diseases
such as hepatitis C and HIV.
Increasing access to life-saving drugs that prevent death by overdose, as well as a focused effort by the
public health and medical community to prevent diseases caused by needle and drug use, is critical to
increasing the chances of successful treatment and improved quality of life for users and their loved ones.
• 70% of children age 1 or younger in foster care in Ohio
have parents with an addiction to opiates and cocaine.

(Source: Public Children Services Association of Ohio,
[ATTACHMENT D])
• The number of Cincinnati-area babies born dependent on
drugs increased 227% from 2012 to 2014. (Source:

Greater Cincinnati Health Council)
• The treatment protocol for hepatitis C costs
approximately $100,000 annually. (Source: The C.

Everett Koop Institute, Dartmouth Medical School)
• The Cincinnati Fire Department received 791 overdose
emergency calls in 2014, up 25% from 2013.

Page 10 of 18

 • The County Communications Center received 413 calls to report suspected heroin overdoses in 2014

Heroin Coalition Action Steps:
• Increasing Law Enforcement Access to Narcan
The Sheriff’s Department has been allocated funding to purchase Narcan in 2015 for deputies, and the
cost will be built into the budget for 2016 (about $20,000). To date, 25% of Sheriff’s deputies have
received training in the use of Narcan and have begun deploying its use. The Department has already
seen seven successful interventions of an overdose using Narcan.
In 2016, Narcan will be purchased and allocated to all Countywide law enforcement agencies to ensure
that first responders and police officers have immediate access to this life-saving medication. The Ohio
Attorney General’s office will provide free training for all law enforcement officers to administer Narcan,
as well as offer rebates to law enforcement entities to discount the purchase of Narcan.
COST:

$20,000 approximate cost for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.
$150,000 approximate cost for Countywide law enforcement access.

Page 11 of 18

 • Advocacy for public availability of naloxone for purchase overover-the counter.
counter.
A recent state legislative change allows the public sale of naloxone over-the-counter. The Coalition will
encourage all pharmacies, especially Walgreens, CVS and Kroger, which are the biggest in our region, to
carry and make available to the public naloxone over-the counter, in order to prevent overdose deaths
and save lives.
COST:

$0 to Hamilton County.

• ‘Quick Response Team’
Colerain Township began a pilot project on July
1, 2015 to deploy a “Quick Response Team” to
follow up with overdose victims after the initial
contact to encourage the pursuit of treatment
and addiction services. The QRT is a partnership
of first responders and the Addiction Services
Council. The success of this Colerain team will
be replicated in other law enforcement agencies
countywide.
Since the QRT’s deployment, 100% of the overdose victims who received face-to-face follow-up from the
QRT team within five days of the overdose are now in treatment. Additionally, Colerain has reduced
overdoses by 33% since May 2015.
COST:

$34,000 in personnel costs to Colerain Township, plus capital cost for QRT vehicle and
equipment. Costs to implement in other communities would likely be similar, and would be
funded by those individual townships, cities and villages. Hamilton County will assist in
locating and securing grant funding for these costs.

• Colerain Township Pilot Program to Combat Bloodborne Pathogens
A pilot program in Colerain Township is in its planning phases to decrease the amount of bloodborne
pathogens affecting heroin and opiate users through public education and assistance.
COST:

$50,000 to Hamilton County.

• Hamilton County Public Health - Healthcare Opiate and Heroin Response Committee
Under the leadership of Hamilton County Public Health Commissioner Tim Ingram, a Committee has
been formed of the chief medical leadership at each of the local hospital systems to discuss and
incorporate treatment protocols and standards of care in the hospital facilities and emergency rooms.
COST:

$0 to Hamilton County.
Page 12 of 18

 Impact Area: TREATMENT

The Problem:
Problem:
The most important impact area for addressing heroin and opiate abuse is treatment. Access to detox,
treatment and recovery services is the critical component to making a large-scale impact on the heroin
epidemic.
• According to the Hamilton County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board (MHRSB) [ATTACHMENT F],
primary diagnoses of heroin and opioid use for those individuals seeking treatment are widespread
throughout Hamilton County, with residents of virtually every township, city and village.

Page 13 of 18

 • The cost of treating heroin and opioid use and the number of individuals seeking treatment is increasing
each year.

Page 14 of 18

 • In 2014, individuals seeking treatment through MHRSB with opioid diagnoses surpassed those seeking
treatment for alcohol, marijuana or any other substance.

Heroin Coalition Action Steps:
Steps:
• Advocacy for legislative changes at the state and federal levels.
The Coalition and its partners will advocate for stronger laws at the state and federal levels to allow for
additional state and federal funding and resources for treatment in local communities.
COST:

$0 to Hamilton County.

• Increase capacity for treatment in Hamilton County.
Under the leadership of the MHRSB, the County network of substance abuse treatment providers has
brought forward a recommended treatment plan to expand the availability of treatment, detox and
recovery services in the County [ATTACHMENT G]
A proposed total increase of $5.62 million in treatment funding can provide outpatient treatment,
medication assisted treatment, methadone and detox services to over 700 additional individuals in
Hamilton County.

Page 15 of 18

 The Coalition’s investment of $2.2 million in treatment will leverage $2.75 million in Medicaid/other
funding, and $652,000 in MHRSB grant funding (totaling $5.62 million).

COST:

$2.2 million total in 2016 and 2017. The University of Cincinnati Medical Center has
pledged $300,000 to these efforts in 2016, and the Coalition is actively seeking similar
commitments from the other hospital systems in the County. A discussion of potential County
sources of funding for treatment will be included in the 2016 Recommended Budget, as well
as upcoming reviews of Countywide property tax levies.

Page 16 of 18

 CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS
Hamilton County is poised to make a lasting impact on the regional heroin and opiate epidemic through
collaborative, creative action steps that connect all of the important entities working to address this issue. In
addition to the action items in this Plan, the Coalition will continue to update its work to include best
practices from other communities and to bring new partners into these efforts. For example, the Center for
Chemical Addictions and Treatment announced in August 2015 its expansion plan to serve an additional
1,000 individuals as the only residential treatment facility in the County.
Hamilton County as an institution must also look internally for ways to join the fight against opiate addiction
with the residents and loved ones battling this scourge every day. Sheriff Jim Neil is crafting a proposal to
create a detox unit within the walls of the Justice Center to provide a safer, medically-certified environment
for those individuals in jail suffering from withdrawal. Sheriff Neil will present his proposal to the Board of
Commissioners in late October 2015.
Outcomes and results from the Coalition’s efforts will be closely tracked in the weeks and months ahead.
Regular updates will be provided to the Board of Commissioners as efforts progress.
A Note of Acknowledgement from Commissioner Greg Hartmann
The Hamilton County Heroin Coalition is a partnership of concerned individuals and organizations with a shared
passion for addressing heroin and opiate abuse and the resulting damage inflicted upon our communities. As Chair
of this Coalition, I am grateful for the collaboration, expertise and compassion exhibited by all of our Coalition
members, partners and supporters.
Thank you for your hard work and commitment to this important endeavor.

Page 17 of 18

 ATTACHMENTS
A.

Interact for Health Response to the Opioid Epidemic

B.

PreventionFIRST! 2014 Student Drug Use Survey

C.

Talbert House Teen Empowerment Program Overview

D.

Child Welfare Opiate Engagement Project, PCSAO, September 2014

E.

2009-2019 Hamilton County Public Health Hepatitis C Report

F.

MHRSB Statistics on Hamilton County Heroin and Opiate Abuse

G.

Hamilton County Heroin Coalition Treatment Proposal

H.

National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Report: Heroin

Page 18 of 18