The Ohio Department of Commerce and the OneOhio Recovery Foundation have announced a new $20 million statewide public education campaign designed to help Ohioans understand health and safety concerns tied to substance use and community recovery efforts across Ohio. The campaign will aim to reach urban and rural audiences, involve local partners, and use a mix of media and grassroots outreach to change how communities see prevention, treatment, and recovery. Leaders in Columbus and community groups statewide will coordinate messaging and delivery to ensure the effort lands where it is needed most.
The investment signals a major commitment to public education around substance use and recovery, not just short-term messaging. Officials plan to use the funds to build sustained outreach that combines research-backed messaging with local voices. That means advertising and engagement efforts tuned to different regions, cultures, and age groups so the campaign does not feel one-size-fits-all to Ohioans.
Organizers have been clear they want measurable results, not just billboards and radio spots. The project will include benchmarks for reach and impact, and partners will be asked to report on how materials are being used in schools, clinics, and community centers. Tracking outcomes will help identify which approaches actually move behavior and which need adjustment so taxpayers can see what the money produces.
Rural counties and smaller cities may benefit from targeted outreach that larger state campaigns often overlook, and program designers say they are prioritizing those places. Mobile units, local town-hall style meetings, and collaborations with county health departments are part of the plan to get relevant information into neighborhoods where resources are limited. By leaning on trusted local institutions, the campaign hopes to overcome skepticism and connect people to services.
Partnerships are central. The OneOhio Recovery Foundation brings community-level experience and networks, while the Department of Commerce offers statewide reach and logistical support. Nonprofits, healthcare providers, and faith-based groups are expected to amplify messages and provide the on-the-ground follow through. That mix aims to turn awareness into action, linking education to concrete options for prevention and help.
Digital channels will play a big role alongside traditional outreach. Organizers plan to use social media, targeted streaming ads, and localized search campaigns to meet people where they are online. At the same time, classic community strategies like posters, school programming, and clinic materials will keep the effort grounded in places people actually visit every day.
Accountability features in planning documents: funds will be audited and campaign performance reviewed regularly. The goal is to prove the approach works and to make adjustments if certain tactics fail to move the needle. Transparency measures are designed to reassure communities that the dollars are being used to support services and materials that directly benefit Ohioans.
Community leaders are being asked to shape messaging so it resonates locally, and that input will determine how materials are translated and distributed. Engaging neighbors, local clinics, and recovery organizations means stories and resources will reflect the realities of different towns and cities. That bottom-up contribution is intended to prevent top-down messaging that misses the mark.
Ohioans should expect to see a visible presence of the campaign across media and public spaces, with a heavy emphasis on connecting people to local services. The effort will include practical information about prevention, how to access treatment, recovery supports, and ways families and friends can intervene safely. By offering clear, actionable steps, the campaign aims to reduce confusion and lower barriers to care.
The campaign represents a state-level investment in changing how communities respond to substance use and recovery challenges. With $20 million behind it, the initiative is positioned to test strategies at scale and adapt as results come in. If successful, leaders hope it will create durable improvements in awareness, access, and outcomes for Ohioans across the state.
