Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
DART Diversion Program Promotes Overdose Awareness and Education in Community
National Overdose Awareness and Prevention Week, which lasts from August 25 through August 31, raises awareness of substance abuse, promotes treatment, and celebrates recovery.
The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office worked towards that goal this week by participating in a community awareness event educating our community about how the Diversion and Rehabilitation Treatment (DART) pre-arrest diversion program helps individuals get their lives back on track and off the path of self-destruction to which drug use leads.
On August 26, the 2024 Overdose Awareness and Prevention Community Event was held at the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department. Local organizations shared overdose education, training, and available resources and support for overdose prevention.
The DART program, started by Prosecutor Ron Welch and headed by the Prosecutor’s Office Diversion Coordinator Kasi Stewart, helps non-violent first-time drug offenders rebuild their lives and make better life choices for themselves, their families, and their loved ones.
Participants often enter the DART program during the lowest points of their lives but leave with renewed hopes for a promising future. Law enforcement officers make recommendations to the Prosecutor’s Office before making arrests. Prosecutors and DART program director Kasi Stewart review candidates for selection.
In addition to counseling and rehabilitating first-time drug offenders, DART helps participants secure stable housing and reliable transportation, allowing them to secure regular employment and meet their obligations as contributing members of society.
DART Program Coordinator Kasi Stewart says the Prosecutor’s Office’s participation in the Overdose Awareness and Prevention Community Event is part of the office’s overall mission to help make Muskingum County a great place to live and work.
“Our office was pleased to be a part of this event and help bring awareness,” Stewart said. “This was a great opportunity to discuss our diversion program with individuals in the community. We look forward to continued collaboration in our community and working towards the same goal of helping individuals become substance-free and law-abiding citizens.”
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