State Can, Should Do More To Combat Statewide Opioid Emergency
Democratic lawmakers from the Ohio House and Senate held a press conference earlier this month pushing for legislative action to combat the worsening statewide opioid emergency. Senate Democratic Leader Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman) and state Reps. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood), Denise Driehaus (D-Cincinnati) and Greta Johnson (D-Akron) pushed for the legislature and the governor to finish work on Senate Bill (SB) 319, opioid and heroin omnibus legislation that the Senate passed before the summer recess but has since stalled in the House.
“Treatment providers, law enforcement and those on the front lines of this epidemic are working tirelessly to prevent more families from losing loved ones to opioid-related deaths,” said Antonio. “But, the legislature must do its part as well. Ohio’s families cannot wait for election season to end – the legislature should continue working on SB 319 to strengthen it so we can better fight back against the growing opioid emergency.”
“Senate Bill 319— which helps decrease the availability of opioids throughout Ohio— is a good piece of legislation, and I was proud to support it,” said Schiavoni. “However, we know there is much more work to be done. Communities have experienced a troubling number of overdoses this summer. The public is calling for action, and it’s time we equip them with the resources they need to fight this epidemic.”
The Dem lawmakers’ call to action comes as data recently released by the Ohio Department of Health shows that drug overdoses killed a record 3,050 people – an average of eight each day – in the state last year. As part of the push for immediate action, state Reps. Johnson and Driehaus recently introduced legislation urging the governor to declare the opioid epidemic a statewide emergency and to divert additional state funds to local efforts aimed at prevention, treatment and law enforcement. In an unrelated emergency declaration for the Republican National Committee’s 2016 Cleveland Convention, the legislature approved $9 million in emergency funds Monday to pay extra first responders that were on hand for the political convention.
“Communities throughout our state are doing everything in their power to fight back against opioid use and overdoses, but without active partnership and a sense of urgency from the state, we risk losing ground,” said Driehaus. “We have a duty and obligation to press pause on politics and campaigns to get back to the unfinished work we were elected to do. There are meaningful measures that lawmakers can act on now and in the future to have a real and positive impact on communities struggling with opioid abuse and overdoses.”
The drug addiction and abuse epidemic also recently reached new and terrifying heights in southwest Ohio, where heroin – possibly spiked with carfentanil, a synthetic opiate painkiller used to care for large wildlife animals such as elephants – was responsible for 174 overdoses in one week, some 78 of which hit the community in a span of only 48 hours.
“As opioid overdoses and deaths continue to skyrocket all across the state, local communities are struggling to meet the demands of what has quickly turned into a state of emergency,” said Johnson. “In light of this grim reality, state leaders and elected officials must put politics aside and use every tool immediately at our disposal to confront this public health emergency head-on, in a unified way. And the first step in doing that is to call the opioid epidemic what it is: a statewide emergency.”
Introduced this spring, SB 319 received widespread praise from numerous medical and provider organizations, including the Ohio State Medical Association, the Ohio Alliance of Recovery Providers and the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities.
Nickie Antonio
State Representative Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) is honored to be serving her third term in the Ohio House of Representatives, where she was elected by her collegaues as Minority Whip for the 131st General Assembly. House District 13 includes the city of Lakewood in its entirety and parts of Cleveland’s West Side including the Detroit Shoreway (Gordon Square Arts District), the Stockyards, West Boulevard, Cuddell, the Village of Linndale, and a section of Ohio City neighborhoods. Representative Antonio is a civic minded public servant who is concerned with the quality of life of those around her and has been a social justice advocate working for human rights and equality for all people for more than two decades. Antonio began her public policy service when she was elected to Lakewood City Council in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009. During her tenure on Lakewood City Council she chaired the Economic Development, Housing, and Human Services committees and served on the Public Works and Finance Committees and was the council representative for the Lakewood Hospital Board and Community Relations Boards. She brought successful strategies for economic development through proactive policies such as the first ever sidewalk dining legislation, the results of which can be seen today in the vibrant outdoor dining scene throughout the city. Ever concerned about environmental policy and practice, Antonio also shepherded through legislation to reduce toxic emissions through a reduced idling ordinance. Antonio also exercised leadership by developing opportunities for diversity appreciation and understanding and civic engagement through the Lakewood Community Relations Advisory Commission of which she was a founder and promoted citizen human rights by expanding protections in the existing municipal intimidation laws. She also championed the push to retain funding for senior programs and services. Antonio is an alumni of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior and Executive Leadership program for State and Local governments. The first in her family to graduate from college, Antonio holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, also from CSU. She is a graduate of Lutheran West High School located in Rocky River, Ohio. A former Special Education teacher and non-profit Executive Director for a women’s outpatient drug/alcohol treatment program, she also served for nearly two decades as a consultant to non-profits and governmental agencies throughout Northeast Ohio and served as administrator for a multi-County HIV/AIDS regional planning group. During this same period she was an Adjunct Professor at CSU teaching courses in Women’s Studies and Public Administration policies and practice. She continues her civic involvement through membership in numerous community groups and serves in an advisory capacity for Spaces Art Gallery and on the board of the non-profit Cleveland Tenants Organization. Antonio currently serves as Ranking Member of the Health and Aging Committee. She also serves on the Finance and Appropriations Committee, Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee, and the Joint Legislative Committee for Unified Long-Term Servics and Supports. Rep. Antonio is a member of the Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus. Because of her social justice advocacy and activity, Antonio is known as a collaborative community builder and organizer. She is an enthusiastic proponent of the arts and civic engagement as some of the best tools available to develop local and statewide viability and economic success. She is also a certified coach and advocates the benefits to the world when people are valued and encouraged to rise to their highest potential and purpose. Daughters Ariel and Stacey, both Lakewood High School graduates, have made Rep. Antonio and wife Jean Kosmac very proud as the girls engage in their post-secondary pursuits.