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The Statehouse News Bureau provides educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations.

Drug Recovery Experts Oppose "Failed Drug Test" Bill

Lori Criss, CEO of The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services Providers

Drug addiction councilors are speaking out against a bill that would send an ex-convict to jail if they fail a drug test. They say this proposal uses the judicial system to solve a health care crisis. Lori Criss is with The Ohio Council, which advocates for behavioral health services. She says the bill that proposes 30-days of jail for someone who tests positive for heroin while on probation is a step in the wrong direction. “It’s a very delicate time in their life. It would be like someone who has a heart problem going into cardiac arrest, having a heart attack. This is a crisis situation for them and their physical health and we need to surround them with health care for that.”The bill includes language for treatment but the concern is that a program wouldn’t be open and that person would be sent to jail instead.Supporters say this would cut off drug use before a possible deadly overdose. Copyright 2018 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

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