Ohio improves system to prevent prescription drug abuse
On Monday, Governor John Kasich and the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy announced improvements to the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS) that make it easier for prescribers and pharmacists to report and track controlled substances. The Administration will invest up to $1.5 million a year to integrate OARRS directly into electronic medical records and pharmacy systems across the state, allowing instant access to help prescribers and pharmacists intervene earlier to prevent addiction and curb abuse.
Ohio's effort to reform juvenile prisons is national model
Ohio is a national model for how it treats juvenile offenders, according to a report by the Juvenile Justice Coalition. The state has dramatically decreased the number of incarcerated teenagers and saved millions of taxpayer dollars, says the report, diverting more teenagers to community-based alternative programs instead of traditional institutions.