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Pharmaceutical companies are paying enormous sums of money as punishment for their role in fueling the substance abuse epidemic. The hundreds of millions of dollar flying around after settlements are reached will be distributed in Ohio based on the decisions of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board.
But a lawsuit filed by Harm Reduction Ohio claims OneOhio may be trying to make those decisions in the dark.
According to a report by Cleveland.com, the lawsuit says OneOhio officials have not responded to the group's request for documents related to the board's meetings in May and June "as well as 'numerous' committee meetings working on 'hiring, finances, bylaws and other matters.'"
Remember, Gov. Mike DeWine's RecoveryOhio initiative posted on its website that OneOhio would operate as if it was subject to Ohio's open meetings law. Now, OneOhio says it is a private nonprofit.
"If unnoticed meetings have taken place, this would be a violation of the Open Meetings Act regardless of how the meetings are labeled -- committees, subcommittees, working groups, work sessions, etc.," the lawsuit says.
OneOhio is entrusted with distribution of $440 million of an $808 million settlement with pharmaceutical distributors and drugmakers. Harm Reduction Ohio's president said there is reason to believe the hundreds of millions controlled by OneOhio could become a "secret slush fund."
Residents fell prey to criminal exploitation when the substance abuse epidemic skyrocketed. What a shame that there is any chance they might now also fall prey to the selfish interests of those who said they were going to help make it right.