On Wednesday, October 10, 2018, City of Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters was awarded the Dr. Bob Smith Trailblazer award from the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADM) Services Board. According to the ADM Board, those honored with the Dr. Bob Smith Trailblazer award are known for offering hope and inspiring change in others. The award was presented at the 2018 Summit County ADM Board Appreciation Luncheon.
Mayor Walters stated, “I am honored to receive this award, and I pledge to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Bob. Smith in offering help and hope in treating every human being with the dignity and respect that they deserve.”
Mayor Walters is a leader at the forefront in the fight against the opiate epidemic that is plaguing our region. The Opiate epidemic continues to weigh on our community, but Mayor Walters remains a pioneer on the forefront, working to educate Cuyahoga Falls students about the dangers of drug abuse through the “Not Me I’m Drug Free” program in the elementary schools.
The City of Cuyahoga Falls officers were the first police department in Summit County to carry the life-saving opiate-reversing drug Narcan. The City of Cuyahoga Falls was the first city in Summit County to provide residents with resources and support through the Quick Response Team. The Quick Response Team visits homes each week to equip individuals and families with information and resources that can potentially help reduce instances of overdoses. They meet with individuals and family members to provide them with an Opiate Addiction Recovery Resource Guide that details crisis services, outpatient and inpatient resources, information regarding residential treatment facilities, and recovery support services that are available.
Additionally, a Drug Collection Unit is located in the lobby of the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department where residents may drop off any unused prescription medication. The next Drug Take Back event is scheduled for Saturday, October 27, 2018, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Cuyahoga Falls City Hall in the Utility Billing parking lot.