By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County Jail has been awarded $200,000 to provide addiction treatment for inmates.
The grant, from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office, will allow the jail to hire a full-time addiction-services coordinator or contract with a company that provides such services to treat opioid and other addictions, helping inmates through detox and recovery.
“We’re excited to be part of this, to see how this works,” said Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn.
Using the grant, the jail will contract with Unison Health to hire a coordinator for addiction services in the facility. The sheriff’s office road deputies and jail personnel already work with Unison.
“We have a great relationship with Unison,” and this will expand upon that, the sheriff said.
Wasylyshyn has repeatedly spoken about the high percentage of inmates in the county jail with addiction and mental health issues.
“Anything we can do to address that will reduce recidivism,” he said. And for the inmates, it may “change their lives.”
The program may also save lives. Overdose is a leading cause of death among jail inmates in Ohio, accounting for at least 70 deaths since 2020, according to a USA Today report.
“We are one of the few counties in the state to take advantage of this” grant opportunity, Wasylyshyn said. “We’re cautiously optimistic to see how it works out.”
In a press release sent out earlier this week, Attorney General Dave Yost announced the fourth round of grants totaling $5.3 million to support addiction treatment for incarcerated Ohioans.
“These grants do more than prevent overdoses – they give inmates a fighting chance to break the cycle of substance abuse and incarceration,” Yost said. “Credit to Ohio’s sheriffs and local leaders for their hard work and innovation in putting this money to good use across the state.”
During the final quarter of 2025, Yost’s office awarded grants to 17 jails, extending the program’s reach to 49 jails serving 54 counties. Eligibility was also expanded to community-based correctional facilities, with 13 facilities awarded funding. Those facilities are residential prison diversion programs for nonviolent offenders, many of whom struggle with addiction.
The Northwest Community Corrections Center, located near the Wood County Jail on East Gypsy Lane Road in Bowling Green, was awarded $121,394 for addiction services.
With the latest payments, the total awarded since Yost announced the first round of grants in March exceeds $10.9 million. In all, Yost’s office is offering $60 million in opioid settlement money over the next several years.
