Medina County Drug Task Force focuses on outreach through "Operation Bridge" event planned for Wednesday

MEDINA — More than 20 local agencies and organizations will take part in an all-day outreach event on Wednesday as part of the Medina County Drug Task Force's "Operation Bridge" efforts. Michael Barnhardt of the Medina County Drug Task Force said "Operation Bridge" has been an ongoing strategic effort throughout Ohio for several years, combining law enforcement and substance treatment resources to reduce supply and demand, while also prioritizing treatment. The Medina County Drug Task Force recently received funding to expand its outreach programs, Director Darren Stout said, which included its harm-reduction program. The harm-reduction program is a multifaceted approach, Stout said, including the enforcement angle, the treatment and community outreach angle, as well as the education angle. On Wednesday, the Medina County Drug Task Force will hold a resource fair at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 696 Lafayette Road, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fair will include substance use and mental health services, housing and recovery support, veteran services, employment help and other resources. The event is family-friendly, including inflatables provided by the National Guard's counterdrug program and free ice cream from the Medina County Sheriff's Office's ice cream truck in the afternoon. "(When) we encounter people with substance use disorders, a lot of times they're hesitant to treatment because they have other issues pending," Stout said. "We're trying to be a one-stop shop with this event, so that we're able to immediately provide all of those resources to get these individuals in treatment right then and there." Stout said the participating agencies and organizations are trying to remove any roadblocks for someone contemplating the idea of treatment, but have other things they feel they need to do beforehand. While the event is geared toward people with substance use disorder, Stout said it's also geared toward all Medina County residents so they can better understand what is offered. On both Wednesday and Thursday, the Medina County Drug Task Force will conduct a two-day directed patrol and drug interdiction operation within county limits, which will include an outreach and behavioral health component. Barnhardt said there will be four clinicians from Alternative Paths who will be out with the Medina County Drug Task Force, so they can assist on any necessary calls. To learn more about "Operation Bridge" and Wednesday's event, visit tinyurl.com/2wk55zs9. Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.