Ross County Post Overdose Response Team (PORT) Receives Substance Use Disorder Advocate of the Year Award from ADAMH

Chillicothe, OH –  The Ross County Post Overdose Response Team (PORT) received the Substance Use Disorder Advocate of the Year Award at Paint Valley ADAMH Board’s annual Recovery Celebration at Bell Manor on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, nominated by Chillicothe Police Department Social Worker, Joanna Denny.

Denny’s nomination was as follows: “It is with gratitude and admiration that I nominate the Ross County Post Overdose Response Team for the Substance Use Disorder Advocate of the Year Award. This remarkable team has become a cornerstone of hope and advocacy in our community, delivering life-changing support to individuals affected by substance use disorder.”  

“The beneficial thing about PORT is the number of community partners involved,” iterated RCHD Substance Use Disorder Program Coordinator, Bud Lytle. PORT consists of representation from entities including the Chillicothe Fire Department, Chillicothe Police Department, Hope Partnership Project, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ross County Community Action, Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Ross County Sheriff’s Office Day Reporting, and the Ross County Health District.

Hosted by RCHD since 2019, PORT meets weekly on Wednesdays to assess the previous week’s reported overdoses and discuss client follow-up information. After the weekly meetings, PORT members conduct door-to-door outreach via two teams – one in Chillicothe and one in the county. PORT’s community outreach efforts have contributed to a nearly 36% decrease in reported overdoses in Ross County in 2025. From January 2025 to August 2025, 109 total overdoses were reported in Ross County, comparatively fewer than last year’s figures from January to August at 170 reported overdoses. PORT has distributed 106 naloxone kits to date in Ross County.

“PORT has seen an increase in the number of individuals receiving naloxone at the time of overdose and an increase in individuals seeking medical care in a hospital post-overdose,” stated Liberty Merriman, PORT member and RCHD Health Promotion and Quality Improvement Program Lead/Epidemiologist. “In 2024, 50.22% received naloxone at the time of an overdose. So far in 2025, we are at 52.29%. Also in 2024, only 58.95% went to the hospital, and so far in 2025 we are at 60.55%,” Merriman added.

A product of what is now the Hope Partnership Project, the impact of PORT has been recognized beyond Ross County since its activation in April 2016. “From the beginning, groups from all over the country and even around the world have recognized some of the work we’ve done here locally,” stated Lytle, who has been involved with PORT since its creation, “so it’s cool to get a local award and that people within our community are recognizing some of those things we’re doing.”

Ross County PORT has received several statewide awards in the past, most recently 2025’s Ohio Deflection Association’s Outstanding QRT Outreach and Engagement Initiative Award for a Medium-Sized Community, along with two Innovative Program Awards by Ohio Crime Association.

Liberty Merriman remarked on the positive PORT recognition, “I think this is especially great for PORT because weekly we’re sitting there talking about the worst days of people’s lives, and we normally just get wrapped up in the negative parts without always looking at the successes, so having a success as a team brings that into perspective.”

PORT accepts referrals from anyone in the community, even before an overdose has occurred. “The goal is to reach people before the point of an overdose, so we accept referrals from anyone who is looking to get help,” Merriman added.  

To make a PORT referral, contact Liberty Merriman at lmerriman@rosscountyhealth.org.

Ross County Post Overdose Response team pictured at ADAMH Recovery Celebration event.

Pictured left to right: Kelly Dennis (PVADAMH Board, Associate Director); Dr. John Gabis, MD; Deputy Dave Weber (Ross County Sheriff); Joanna Denny (Chillicothe Police Department); Chillicothe Police Captain Michael Short; Bud Lytle (front)(Ross County Health District); Kloey Stevens (back)(Integrated Services); Lisa Mitchell (front)(Ross County Community Action); Chief of Police Ron Myers; Jordan Staley (Hope Partnership Project); Billy Estes (Ross County Community Action)