PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman has been named to a state advisory committee that will help oversee recovery housing residences across Ohio, giving the county a voice in how sober-living facilities are regulated statewide.
Thoroughman attended his first meeting of the Recovery Housing Residence Advisory Committee at the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health in Columbus this week, after being invited to join by state Rep. Justin Pizzulli, R-Scioto Township, who represents Ohio’s 90th House District, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post. Thoroughman said he is representing both law enforcement and Scioto County on the committee.
The committee advises the Department of Behavioral Health, which gained direct authority over recovery housing certification statewide after Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order in August giving the department power to certify operators, investigate complaints and enforce compliance. Recovery housing residences are alcohol- and drug-free living environments that pair peer support with assistance connecting residents to addiction treatment services.
Thoroughman said in the post that law enforcement needs a seat at the table when decisions are made about how recovery residences operate and are overseen, noting that Scioto County has seen the impact of addiction firsthand. He said he plans to keep working with state and local partners on solutions that support people in recovery while keeping neighborhoods safe.
Thoroughman thanked Pizzulli for the invitation and said he would share updates as the committee’s work moves forward.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office.
