Husted says combating drug crisis in Ohio is one of his top priorities

This March will mark two years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. And since then other health issues have taken a backseat.

Heading into the new year, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said the state wants to get back to stopping the drug crisis.

"First of all, we have to stem the tide of Fentanyl and opioids flowing into this country from Mexico,” Husted said in an exclusive sit down with NEWS9. “What had happened is that we had stopped that or at least got it under control, but then when the policies at the border were relaxed the Fentanyl began to flow again and that's leading to overdoses and deaths."

PART 1: Husted optimistic about Ohio economy

According to the Ohio Department of Health in 2019, there were 4,028 drug overdose deaths and 76 percent of those involved Fentanyl.

“One of the things we're trying to do is fund the police and make sure that we get more money out to law enforcement so that we can have more officers on task of trying to intercept these drugs when they are being trafficked into Ohio,” Husted said. “That's one of the things that's going to be an enhanced effort in 2022."

Husted believes part of the drug problem could also be post-pandemic mental health and depression.

"There's also some truth to the fact that the mental health and the struggles that people have do stem in some ways to COVID,” Husted said. “And that's why we were helping/working to get life back to normal. That's why we tried to get the schools open in Ohio as soon as possible. It’s why we tried to get people back to work and returning to some normalcy, so they don't suffer from the mental health issues and depression.

“Look, people need hope in their life. They need purpose in their lives. And we're trying to give them that. They tend to get hope and purpose from several things: they get it from their work, their family, they get it from their community, and they get it from faith."

Husted said heading into 2022 the state will be promoting faith-based initiatives to help people regain hope.

He added the government cannot fix it all without the help of the business, education, and healthcare aspects of society.