“Nothing about it without us.”

Ohio’s $1 billion opioid settlement — called OneOhio — is off to a rocky start. (Details here, here and here.)

Most troubling, government officials have excluded people directly hurt by opioids and overdose from having involvement in OneOhio — how it will work, how money will be spent, etc.

Harm Reduction Ohio represents and loves the impacted population — i.e., you — and is committed to making sure people with lived experience and shared experience (such as family members who’ve lost loved ones to overdose) are involved in determining how settlement money is used. Our knowledge should be valued, not dismissed.

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation, a government board that controls 55% of opioid settlement money, is the biggest problem. (Details here.) The foundation should be welcoming to the impacted population, especially people who lost loved ones to overdose or who’ve an overdosed themselves. Instead, the foundation has been dismissive and downright hostile to people hurt by the opioid problem. We were banned from attending the first OneOhio meeting. After demanding we be allowed in to the room for the second meeting, we were denied an opportunity to speak.

This is stigma in action. People harmed by opioids should be at the table, not silenced in the corner. 

Let’s be heard

To provide a mechanism for the impacted population to be heard, Harm Reduction Ohio is forming an independent, volunteer group called Friends of OneOhio. We will insist that we been heard and treated with respect.

Friends of OneOhio supports the OneOhio opioid settlement as signed by Gov. Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost. (Read the agreement here.) The state has been flagrantly ignoring the agreement, including the need to involve the impacted population. 

Friends of OneOhio is an effort to formalize the impacted population’s so far futile attempt to have a voice in how the opioid settlement is used. Our expertise (and pain) should be valued, not dismissed. Our loved ones died for this money — literally, died for this money. We know what we’re talking about. We are OneOhio’s best friends. Why should not be treated like enemies. 

What we believe

Friends of OneOhio supports the following principles:

• The impacted population should have significant representation on all OneOhio boards at the state, regional and local levels.
• People with lived experience should be directly involved in opioid settlement spending decisions at the state, regional and local levels.
• People with shared experience should be directly involved in opioid settlement spending decisions at the state, regional and local levels.
• Opioid settlement spending should prioritize reducing overdose death.
• Opioid settlement money should not be used to criminalize or stigmatize people.
• OneOhio should be transparent, following open meetings and public records laws.

Please consider joining our effort to save lives and let the impacted population be heard.

“Nothing about us without us.”

Friends of OneOhio is a group of concerned citizens who want people impacted by opioids to have a day in how the $1 billion OneOhio opioid settlement is used. Please join us.