LISBON — The Columbiana County Drug Task Force will receive two state grants to assist in the battle against illegal drugs, with $78,842 from the Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund and $80,000 from the RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund.

“I’m thankful to the state of Ohio for continuing to support us in this way,” county DTF Director Detective Jesse Smith of the Sheriff’s Office said.

Smith had not received word of the grants yet. He said the state has supported DTF efforts a lot through the years with grants and he’s glad that’s continuing.

The DTF includes 12 personnel, with that number including Smith, along with two administrative assistants, two non-case agents and seven case agents. Communities with representation on the DTF include the sheriff’s office, Salem, Lisbon, Columbiana, East Liverpool, Wellsville and Liverpool Township.

Gov. Mike DeWine issued a press release Thursday announcing the grant awards to “support local law enforcement’s work to combat illegal drug activity and promote substance use prevention and recovery.”

The funding is coming from the governor’s RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund and the Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund.

“The work of law enforcement has played a large role in the fact that unintentional drug overdoses in Ohio have decreased for three years in a row,” DeWine said in the press release. “We are proud to support local efforts to hold drug traffickers accountable and support recovery from substance use disorder.”

The aim of the RecoveryOhio initiative is to “increase substance use and mental health awareness, implement age-appropriate prevention education in schools, connect those who need help with treatment, and promote recovery,” the release said, noting that more than $15 million has been awarded since 2019 to law enforcement agencies.

For the Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund, more than $23 million has been awarded to law enforcement agencies since 2019.

Both funds can be used by agencies for investigations into drug trafficking and to help drug overdose victims.

The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office also received funding, with $60,000 from the RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund and $104,589 from the Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund.

mgreier@mojonews.com