Harm reduction workers say they’re concerned about potential funding cuts for Narcan

By: Megan Acker
Posted on: Monday, June 23, 2025

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Since the start of 2025, Narcan — also known by generic name naloxone — has reversed a known 5,635 overdoses in Ohio, according to state figures. Overdose deaths dropped by 9% last year, far exceeding the nationwide 2% decrease.

The success of harm reduction services in Ohio is undeniable.

But people on the frontlines worry funding for these programs is at risk. The most recent version of the state’s budget bill cuts funding from the more than $16 million requested to just over $4 million over the next two years for chronic disease, injury prevention and drug overdose services. Federal funding, responsible for a large portion of harm reduction funding in Ohio, remains intact, but many remain uneasy.

Col. Thomas Synan is the co-founder and co-chair of the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition. The organization has made huge progress. Since 2017, overdose deaths in Hamilton County have dropped by 52%, according to data from the Hamilton County coroner’s office.

“You need naloxone to get someone … all the way to active recovery, and for us, active recovery is someone who has a house, job, they have transportation,” Synan said. “They’re investing back into the community, they’re paying taxes again. They have their families back. We can’t get to that point unless someone has naloxone and is able to revive somebody.” 

Synan is concerned that access to Narcan will be at risk, harming the efficacy of his program.

“What you really want is that stability,” said Synan. “And we already know that person isn’t stable themselves. But when the system that’s trying to give them treatment and help when they’re not stable, that (uncertainty) then trickles down to that person and their family and it just adds to the instability.”

That instability is felt throughout the state by harm reduction workers who depend on Narcan.

“It saves lives, has no side effects. So as far as I can see, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be saturating it as much as everywhere,” said Jackson County Health Commissioner Kevin Aston. “I mean, you can save a human life.”

The Jackson County Health Department has had similar successes with its harm reduction efforts. According to Aston, it’s “per capita … one of the highest distribution programs in the state of Ohio.” The program is dependent on funding from the state Department of Health, as opposed to receiving funds from outside grants or other sources. 

“I’ve got to say, we probably give out an average of 40 to 50 a week,” said Suzanne Pyle, harm reduction coordinator at the Jackson County Department of Health. “We give it out at our harm reduction program. We do mail order to the different businesses.”

If funding is cut, this distribution may be at risk. Aston didn’t mince words as to what that would mean.

“There’s going to be more Ohioans (who) die if we cut harm reduction funding. Period.”

The Ohio departments of health and mental health and addiction services said they could not comment on the budget proposal.