MENTOR, Ohio — The Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board reported progress in overdose prevention, peer support workforce development, and child safety as part of its 2023–2025 Community Assessment & Plan.
The board released summary results this week. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer have requested the full Community Assessment & Plan report.
Officials said in a press release that the county exceeded several key goals tied to prevention and recovery efforts, while other behavioral health indicators remained stable over the three-year period.
Under Ohio law, local addiction and mental health boards are required to submit a Community Assessment & Plan to the state identifying community needs and outlining priorities for prevention, treatment and recovery support.
Among the most notable gains were those in overdose prevention, officials said.
During the three-year period, 1,293 naloxone kits were distributed throughout the community, surpassing the board’s original goal of 1,200. Naloxone is a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
The county also exceeded its target for peer support workforce development. While the plan called for training 10 peer supporters over three years, a total of 35 were trained, including 17 in 2025 alone. Peer supporters are individuals with lived experience who help others navigate recovery.
Other indicators showed improvement as well.
The percentage of uninsured adults declined from 6.5% to 4.9%, reflecting increased access to care. Child safety outcomes also improved, with only one child removed from their home in 2025 due to parental substance use.
Referrals to Child Protective Services increased slightly compared with some previous years, but remained well below the three-year target of 250 and below the peak reported in 2023, according to the scorecard.
While the county exceeded several of its measurable goals, Daniel Rowles, director of quality & clinical operations, said the broader takeaway is that sustained investment in prevention and recovery services is making a measurable difference.
“These numbers show that our community is working—especially in lifesaving overdose prevention, peer support, and child safety,” Rowles said. “At the same time, the data reminds us that prevention and mental health support must remain a long-term priority.”
Several behavioral health indicators remained unchanged over the assessment period, including youth illicit drug use, adult depression rates, heavy and binge drinking, and the number of poor mental health days for adults.
The report also highlighted ongoing challenges in serving pregnant women with substance use disorders.
While 101 pregnant women and mothers were screened during the period, 24 were admitted for residential treatment, falling short of the projected goal of 50. Officials cited barriers such as housing, childcare and transportation.
The board said the assessment results will be used to guide future strategies and partnerships across prevention, treatment and recovery services in Lake County.