Jail administrator discusses opioid remediation grant with commissioners

Jail administrator Mark Smith was introduced by Harrison County Sheriff Mark Touville at the Dec. 10 Harrison County Commissioners meeting. Touville said Smith’s addition was a “plus” for the new jail and its personnel.

Smith updated commissioners on a grant application worth more than $100,000 titled the Opioid Remediation Grant through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

“This grant will allow us to implement things like MAT, which is medication-assisted treatment,” Smith said. “It’s an evidence-based, whole-patient approach that combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat substance abuse disorders for all of our inmates who are struggling with those things.”

Smith said the grant request totals $107,000, with $57,000 designated for trainer Darla Moore. The remaining $50,000 would fund supplies, including Narcan, medications and other items needed to support inmates during withdrawal.

He said Moore is coordinating with Stark County and other counties to gather information to guide training for corrections officers. The grant is expected to be awarded in January 2026.

“Again, I hope I’m not out of order by saying we have a gentleman in our jail waiting to go to Heartland who is suffering with these very things right now, and this would be a really good plus if we had some things right in our jail to help him before he even actually goes — and this is what this will do,” Smith told the board.

Smith called it a “great” grant and said he was amazed by the speed of the approval, noting the application was accepted within 24 hours earlier this month.