As part of the Ohio SPF Rx Community Prevention Project, 11 prevention-focused organizations have been funded to reduce substance use and the impact of prescription drug misuse in their communities.

Over the next six months, project participants will implement evidence-based prevention strategies to address substance use/misuse and promote safe medication storage/disposal. Examples include: providing education and distributing safe medication resources; community medication disposal events, peer-2-peer education, Red Ribbon Week activities, and youth summits.

“Continuing to support community-focused, evidence-based prevention efforts is an ongoing goal of Ohio SPF Rx. When we continue to prioritize prevention and provide opportunities to engage youth, young adults, parents, and older adults, we help build a foundation for healthy communities and families,” champions Nicole Schiesler, President and CEO of PreventionFIRST!

Ohio SPF Rx partners include PreventionFIRST!, PIRE, and OCAM, and funder, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS). The Community Prevention Project is part of the Ohio SPF Rx five-year 2021 grant funded through a federal SAMHSA grant awarded to OhioMHAS.

Funded organizations include: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio; Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley; Lima UMADAOP; Montgomery County ADAMHS; The National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton; Prevention Awareness Support Services (Auglaize, Hardin, Allen counties); Sylvania Prevention Alliance; Shaker Heights Youth Center; UMADAOP of Dayton; WellSpring (Springfield); and Youngstown UMADAOP.

Carrie Kuruc, Chief Operating Officer
Carrie Kuruc strives to remove barriers to innovation and progress. For nearly 20 years, she has joined government offices in maximizing internal efficiency and improving the effectiveness of external services.

She is returning to the State of Ohio from consulting where she led a cross-functional team in the cloud migration and redesign of a new e-rulemaking system for the federal government. Prior to that, Carrie worked for 17 years in diverse roles across State of Ohio government. She served as Deputy Director of InnovateOhio, where she implemented innovation and modernization strategies, leading agency process transitions from in-person to online services to ease public interaction with government offices.

As the Director of the Common Sense Initiative (CSI), Carrie deployed a regulatory reform technology tool across state agencies to assist them in simplifying and modernizing the Administrative Code and ease compliance for businesses and individuals.

Carrie also worked for eight years as an Elections Counsel in the Ohio Secretary of State’s office where she served as Secretary of the Ohio Ballot Board. She began her career in the Ohio General Assembly as an Attorney Rules Analyst at the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR).

Carrie graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and Duquesne University. She started her position on Sept. 9.

Merissa McKinstry, Chief of Hospital Services and Forensic Operations
Welcome back to Merissa McKinstry, who previously served as Deputy Director of Hospital Services before leaving earlier this year to pursue an opportunity as Director of Outreach and Engagement for Aetna, OhioRISE.

Merissa brings more than 20 years of behavioral health experience to OhioMHAS, having held leadership positions in both the public and private sectors leading hospital operations, denovo startups, and Joint Commission compliance.

In her new role as Deputy Director of Hospital Systems and Forensic Operations, Merissa will lead OhioMHAS' six inpatient psychiatric hospitals and oversee forensic operations.

Merissa holds a bachelor's degree from Ohio Dominican University and a master's degree in Business Administration with a focus on health care from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Merissa started her position Sept. 10.

The Montgomery County Prevention Coalition (MCPC) has received the 2024 Blue Ribbon Coalition Award from Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). MCPC is one of just 11 coalitions nationwide to receive the prestigious award.

Specifically, MCPC is being honored for its work to reduce the use of opioids in Montgomery County. According to the Community Overdose Action Team (COAT), overdose deaths are down more than 50 percent in 2024 when compared to 2023. Prescriptions for opioids have decreased by 51 percent since 2015. 

A new look into addiction treatment availability in the U.S. criminal justice system reveals that fewer than half (43.8 percent) of 1,028 jails surveyed across the nation offered any form of medication for opioid use disorder, and only 12.8 percent made these available to anyone with the disorder. With two-thirds of people who are incarcerated in U.S. jails experiencing a substance use disorder – in many cases, an opioid use disorder – the failure to make these medications widely available in criminal justice settings represents a significant missed opportunity to provide life-saving treatments in an environment where people in need of care can be easily reached.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has launched a Spanish-language version of its online treatment locator. Designed to serve Spanish-speaking communities, FindTreatment.gov/es offers confidential and anonymous access to a comprehensive list of certified substance use and mental health treatment facilities, certified community behavioral health clinics, opioid treatment programs, buprenorphine practitioners, and healthcare centers across the U.S. 

The site allows users to:

• Search for treatment from multiple sources such as certified substance use and mental health treatment facilities, opioid treatment programs, buprenorphine practitioners, and health care centers.
• Access an interactive map and search filters to tailor treatment options.
• Search for a facility by entering address, city, state, zip code or facility name.
• Download printer-friendly search results including facility location (i.e., phone number, address, website, etc.).

The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO) has announced two upcoming ethics trainings for prevention and treatment professionals. The trainings are free for PGNO members and $20 for non-members. Click the links below for more information and to register.

Oct. 4 | Prevention Ethics | 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Register
Oct. 18 | Treatment Ethics | 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Register

Registration is now open for the 2024 PreventionFIRST! Coalition Academy scheduled for Oct. 29 at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason. This one-day, in-person conference is focused on strengthening, growing, and sustaining community coalitions. Cost is $130. Prevention, CHES, and social work CEUs will be applied for. For more information, email Amanda Conn Starner at aconnstarner@prevention-first.org or call 513.751.8000, ext. 13.

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) is sponsoring a free Prenatal Alcohol and Drug Exposure: Supporting the Social and Emotional Health of Affected Children and Youth webinar  on Oct. 31 from  noon-1:30 p.m. The session will be facilitated by Dr. Ira J. Chasnoff. Participants will explore neurodevelopmental challenges faced by children prenatally exposed to alcohol and drugs, examining how these issues manifest in behavioral and learning difficulties affecting their social and emotional health. Dr. Chasnoff will discuss the structural and functional changes in the developing fetal brain due to prenatal substance exposure and present evidence-based approaches for treatment and support.