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OFBF leader: Rural communities hit hard by drug epidemic

Ohio has been one of the hardest hit states by the opioid epidemic and an Ohio Farm Bureau leader says he’s doing what he can to fight back against the drug crisis.

Beef producer and president of the Ross County Farm Bureau Greg Garman says drug addiction and overdose are plaguing rural Ohio and the Ross County Sheriff asked him to speak to lawmakers on the rural drug epidemic while he was meeting with them in Washington, DC this week.

“He doesn’t have access. I mean he does but he’s busy, and one of the things that’s come from our board and our policy development has been to address this drug epidemic. And so we have to do something to stem this tide,” says Garman.

He tells Brownfield it is a never ending battle for the Sheriff.

“He knows the houses he’s going to. He says ‘It’s the same place I was two weeks ago, or a month ago.’ They know him by name when he goes to the door and knocks they know what he’s there for. How do you stop that? How do you break that cycle?” says Garman.

Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers met with Farm Bureau leaders Wednesday. He says he’s in favor of funding evidence based treatment because 85 percent of addicts will relapse without it. Stivers says he supports random drug testing for businesses and social programs.

Audio: Greg Garman, President, Ross County Farm Bureau