JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) — Jefferson County leaders say a new program is helping turn arrests into second chances.

7News sat down with multiple change makers in this effort and has the story.

Addiction remains a major crisis in Ohio, with thousands of overdose deaths each year, even as the numbers begin to improve.

In Jefferson County alone—where nearly one in five residents lives in poverty and healthcare options are sparse—access to treatment can feel out of reach.

That's why the new diversion program, offering addiction intervention at the front door of the legal system, isn't just innovative—it's essential.

My first year as sheriff was terrible - That summer was terrible. What I realized was that a lot of these people who overdosed had just either been in jail or had just got

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