Paul Matulavich, Director of Public Relations & Media for the Summit County Sheriff's Office,
01/12
(Columbus, OH) The RALI CARES educational trailer recently visited Ohio with 11 stops across the state. Set up as a mock teenage bedroom, the trailer exhibit provided families the opportunity to learn about the possible warning signs of substance abuse.
The Ohio tour kicked off in Columbus at the Ohio Statehouse and went on to other locations that included Marysville, Circleville, New Lexington, Zanesville, Ashland, Medina, Canton, Northfield, Toledo and Dayton. In partnership with Code 3, the trailer was sponsored by the Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative of Ohio (RALI OH) to combat the opioid epidemic.
“This initiative will help highlight the importance of education and prevention in ending the opioid crisis in our state,” said Marcie Seidel, Executive Director for Prevention Action Alliance in Ohio, and a RALI Ohio partner group. “This is an important effort that will help Ohio families identify early warning signs of drug abuse and take action. I’m glad to join with my fellow elected officials, law enforcement, and community leaders in this effort.”
Hundreds of parents, caregivers and interested individuals were given guided tours through the mock bedroom by Code 3 experts who pointed out potential hiding places and other clues that would indicate the teen is abusing drugs and other substances. Each stop was hosted by the local county sheriffs’ offices or other stakeholder groups working to prevent substance abuse in the community.
In addition to its efforts on public education, RALI OH has provided grants to not-for-profit organizations throughout Ohio that offer substance abuse prevention and educational programming, or provide community support in fighting the opioid epidemic. Grant funding has assisted children’s groups, veterans’ organizations and statewide as well as local community initiatives.
The RALI OH website, www.ralioh.org, serves as the hub of information about the organization’s efforts. The alliance aims to bring together leaders to mobilize stakeholders, highlight programs that save lives, partner with policymakers and share ideas to effectively address the crisis.
About RALI Ohio
RALI Ohio is an alliance of more than a dozen local, state, and national organizations committed to finding solutions to end the opioid crisis in Ohio. Partners include:
· Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio
· Addiction Policy Forum
· Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association
· Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
· Cover2 Resources
· Hope United
· National Black Nurses Association
· National Grange
· National Sheriffs’ Association
· Ohio Academy of Family Physicians
· Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities
· Ohio Association of Community Health Centers
· Ohio Children’s Alliance
· Ohio Manufacturers’ Association
· Ohio National Guard Association
· Ohio Pharmacists Association
· Ohio State Grange
· ‘One is Too Many’ AMVETS, Department of Ohio program
· Pickaway Addiction Action Coalition
· Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
· Prevention Action Alliance
· Public Children’s Services Association of Ohio
· Summit County Community Partnership
· Veterans Against Drugs
· Veterans Health Council
· Vietnam Veterans of America
· VFW of Ohio
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