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An Ohio county recently introduced the idea that patients who complete addiction treatment can get dismissed drug charges. The treatment costs patients nothing.
Free addiction treatment in Ohio is easier to access in Wood County this year. The Wood County Addiction Response Collaborative received a grant that exceeds previous awards.
The Wood County Prosecutor’s Office coordinates the program with public funding covering the cost so participants don’t get charged.
How Charge Dismissal Works
Known locally as ARC the collaborative began nearly a decade ago. Rising opioid addictions and overdoses prompted its creation.
Its diversion track serves people facing drug related criminal charges. Participants complete individual counseling, meet education requirements and submit urine samples.
Those who finish can petition the court to dismiss their drug charges. The court clears the charges after completion but not automatically at intake.
“They have incentive to do that,” Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson said about completing the program.
More than 200 people have completed the diversion program over the past five years.
ARC launched in 2017 with four goals. It aimed to mobilize a quick response team that could reach people within 72 hours of an overdose, create the diversion program, work with probation to offer intervention instead of jail, and establish a drug court.
The first three goals were successful.
Who Qualifies for Free or Low Cost Treatment
Eligibility runs through the court system and the program targets people facing drug related charges in Wood County.
Referrals typically come through the prosecutor’s office, a defense attorney or probation. Because grants fund the program, participants don’t pay treatment costs or use their insurance.
That funding removes cost as a barrier to entry but some diversion programs in other jurisdictions charge participation or testing fees.
How ARC Treatment Gets Funded
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has historically funded ARC through grants with previous awards reaching a maximum of $50,000 per year.
This year, the county received $94,000. Administrative director Annie Wilson shared the figure with the Wood County Commissioners.
That funding keeps the program free for participants. Jordan Garza now serves as the new ARC program coordinator.
What Is Changing in Wood County
Opioid overdoses in the county have dropped sharply. As a result, people use the diversion program less often.
Wilson noted that ARC handled multiple overdose reports each day in 2020 and those numbers have since tapered off.
Two factors helped drive that change. Wider Narcan availability means many overdoses end up unreported.
The substances involved have also changed. Dobson said many people now use other drugs. This includes cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
ARC isn’t winding down, but instead, it’s changing its focus. The office plans to strengthen partnerships with local resources such as area hospitals, probation officers, the Wood County Jail and Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services. The goal is to connect people with service providers and establish safety plans to prevent overdoses from occurring in the future.
How to Access Free Addiction Resources
Ask the prosecutor’s office or a public defender about ARC diversion eligibility. The court system serves as the main entry point.
For treatment outside the justice system, Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services funds publicly supported care. County ADAMH boards across Ohio also serve the same role.
These boards can provide a route to sliding scale or no cost services and are often the fastest option for uninsured patients.
The Pathway to Affordable Treatment in Ohio
Check whether you qualify for Ohio Medicaid. Don’t assume treatment costs are out of reach as many resources exist to support your recovery. Medicaid rehab coverage includes outpatient and inpatient treatment for eligible adults.
Ask treatment programs about their payment options. A program may offer a sliding scale or accept county board funding.
Rehabs.org lists a variety of low cost and free treatment options nationwide. Be sure to filter the listing by payment type to find Ohio programs that accept Medicaid.
There are also programs that offer sliding scale fees or receive state and county funding. Call
800-914-7089
(
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to speak with a treatment specialist today.
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