Scioto County and the City of Portsmouth each will receive $15,000 from the Ohio Prescription Drug Grant program from the Ohio Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force.

Through the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), the Ohio Prescription Drug Grant will help pay for prescription drug investigations related to the enforcement of the state’s prescription drug laws and other illegal prescription drug activity.

George T. Maier, chairman of the task force and assistant director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, said the focus of the grant is to target organized illegal prescription drug cases that involve source targets. Generally, source targets are those responsible for knowingly making the abuse possible by supplying users through illegal or unlawful means.

“These funds are incredibly critical to law enforcement as they continue to combat this epidemic,” Maier said. “We will continue to assist law enforcement and are proud to announce a website containing additional prescription-drug-related resources, training and funding opportunities specifically for them.”

Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner said the grant will be used strictly for drug investigations involving illegal pharmaceutical drug activity.

“It was announced at the task force meeting Wednesday (Sept. 8), and probably within the week we’ll get the papers down from the state, notifying us of the award,” Horner said. “In light of the pharmaceutical drug problem that we are having down here, obviously we want to thank Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland for making this a priority at the state level — giving me, (Director of the Scioto County Counseling Center) Ed Hughes, and (Scioto County Health Commissioner) Dr. Aaron Adams the opportunity to serve on the Drug Task Force in Columbus.”

Adams County Sheriff’s Office will receive $8,000.

Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232 or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.