On Monday, multiple health addiction services in Athens set up resource tables outside of the Health Resources Services building on Columbus Road to commemorate National Overdose Awareness Day.
The Athens County Sheriff's Office attended the event, highlighting their Helping End Addiction, Responding Together program. The program was established in November 2025 and strives to save the lives of those struggling with addiction and prevent overdoses.
The program’s name was inspired by the statement, “every beating heart is worth saving,” by Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith. Sara Lightner serves as the current coordinator for the H.E.A.R.T. program and started working in November 2025.
Nick Fussner, Athens County Patrol Deputy, said before the H.E.A.R.T. program, the Athens County Sheriff's Office used a different model for substance abuse prevention. The past program consisted of two deputies who would randomly check on the homes of people whom the department previously encountered as individuals who might need helpful services, such as Narcan.
Fussner explained why the new H.E.A.R.T. model works better.
“What Sara has done has been far more productive,” Fussner said. “It's not a couple cops knocking on your door; some people are sometimes receptive to that, some people turn the lights off and hide in the corner because a lot of folks that have addiction are scared of the police, or they're in some sort of trouble, or assume that they may be.”
According to Lightner, some people in Athens avoid acknowledging themselves as the one who needs substance abuse help, but her policy is resources will be provided “no questions asked.”
“If they want to talk to somebody, all the deputies have to do is call my cell phone,” Lightner said. “I'm the person on the other line, where, hopefully, they're comfortable with being able to talk to me and have that comforting feeling that 'Someone is here that cares, they want me to get better.'”
Lightner said the program is more present in Athens and thus offers struggling individuals an easier path to ask for help.
Haylee Sprouse, a clinical nurse manager at OhioHealth Addiction Medicine, represented OhioHealth at Monday’s event. The H.E.A.R.T. program will often refer those in need who are looking for treatment to OhioHealth.
“We have substance use navigators who work out of O’Bleness and out in the community who help connect folks with treatment options,” Sprouse said. “Whether it be medication or inpatient treatment options, outpatient treatment options.”
Shari Blackwell, substance use navigator at OhioHealth, said addiction trends have changed in Athens throughout the years.
“We went from, we had a definite opioid crisis, and then it switched to more of a meth crisis, with fentanyl into meth,” Blackwell said.
Lauren Denner, public health nurse for Athens County-City Health Department, said the department provides the H.E.A.R.T. program with naloxone, or Narcan, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose.
“They have a stock at the sheriff's department of naloxone, and they ask for it,” Denner said. “We have to do an order every three months, so we check in with them every three months to see how much naloxone they're going to be using, how much they need, how much they have and then also check expirations too, if those expire.”
Deputies and Quick Response Teams carry care bags during their patrol for onsite provisions. The bags include a card with Lightner’s contact information, Narcan, hygiene kits and first aid kits.
“I work patrol on the midnight shift, and recently there was an overdose call that had come in during my shift,” Fussner said. “Another deputy and I responded, administered Narcan, and EMS arrived shortly thereafter to provide follow-up care and safety.”
The H.E.A.R.T. program’s services are offered 24/7. Lightner also said people can refer themselves or someone they know who might require help via the Athens County Sheriff's Office website.
“I have almost 80 pages of resources that we are able to provide people,” Lightner said. “Anybody can go and do a referral, whether it be self-referral or a referral for a family member or a loved one. They can also click on different logos, and it will go directly to that resource page that is for each agency or group.”
