At a joint meeting of the Ada Kiwanis and Rotary Chubs held on Tuesday, September 30, members welcomed Ohio Representative Robert Sprague. Sprague is currently serving his second term in the Ohio House of Representatives, following his appointment in February 2011.
He serves the 83rd District, which consists of Hancock and Hardin Counties, as well as parts of Logan County.
Sprague spoke about the Ohio House legislation requiring every county to have the full spectrum of opioid addiction recovery treatment and recovery housing. Sprague was the chair of the House Prescription Drug Addiction and Healthcare Reform Committee, which traveled around Ohio last summer learning about and studying drug abuse and addiction.
House Bill 369 was introduced into the legislature in December of 2013, but its provisions were incorporated into House Bill 483 as part of the mid-biennium budget review (MBR) process. The bill requires that each county board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services (ADAMHS) establish of full spectrum of care, resources, and treatment services for opioid and co-occurring drug addiction.
Sprague said that the legislation is making a difference and it is beginning to show positive results in stemming the very-rising problem of substance abuse.
Sprague concluded his remarks by answering several questions from those in attendance.
