Oklahoma’s Opioid Abatement Project Seeks Expansion Amid Rising Overdose Rates
CLAREMORE, Okla. — In response to a staggering 129 percent increase in fatal overdoses from 2019 to 2023, Oklahoma’s Opioid Abatement Project is working to expand its reach. Aimed at reducing these alarming statistics, the initiative includes programs like Women in Recovery (WIR), which supports women grappling with substance abuse through education, rehabilitation, workforce training, and family reunification.
Chantel Reben, a participant in WIR, shared her personal recovery journey: “I would still be in prison today, and I would have lost my son,” she revealed, emphasizing the program’s transformative impact on her life. The Opioid Abatement Project is specifically designed to assist individuals with non-violent legal issues related to substance abuse.
Attorney General Drummond, involved in the initiative, announced plans to apply for a $28 million grant to further support these efforts. Notably, the project’s grant application process has been streamlined to a three-year cycle, promoting easier fund distribution for necessary initiatives.
Mimi Tarrasch, Chief Program Officer at Family and Children’s Services, highlighted the organization’s commitment to keeping families together by reducing incarceration rates among women. “We understand the devastation of separation between parents and children. Parents want to be the best they can be,” Tarrasch stated. Over the past year, WIR has supported around 70 women and 40 men, impacting roughly 172 children.
Both Tarrasch and Reben express optimism about the project’s growth. Reben reflects on her challenges, stating, “It was a hard road for me, but I think that that intensifies my gratitude today.” As the Opioid Abatement Project continues to expand, it aims to foster healing and reunification for families across Oklahoma.
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