• Meet Our Team
  • Advertise on SCDN
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Us
Sunday, August 24
Scioto County Daily News
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe For $1/week
  • Public Safety

    🚨 Not What It Looked Like: Deputies Step Into Social Worker Role in West Portsmouth 

    Portsmouth Fire Department PFD

    🚨 “I’m Dying!” Woman Storms Portsmouth Fire Station — First Responders Step Up in Mental Health Crisis 

    Eric A Froe

    🚨 Repeat Trespasser Back Behind Bars — But For How Long?

    🚨 McCall Road Meltdown: Stepfather Jailed After Violent Domestic Attack 

    body

    Missing Person Call Erupts Into Threats, Taser Standoff, and Dead Body! 

    🐶🍉 Watermelon Brawl? Portsmouth Police Called to “Fight” on Highland Avenue 

    💥🚬 Boom on the Block: Cigarette + Oxygen = Disaster in Portsmouth Home 

    😱 “I’ll Bring a Gun!” Patient’s Chilling Threat Shakes Local Medical Facility 

    dog animal neglect

    🐶 Left Behind: Dog Abandoned After Eviction Sparks Police Investigation 

    Nuisance Properties

    The Cash Register’s Ringing—But So Are the Sirens 

    Radioactive Shrimp

    🚨 Radioactive Shrimp Recall EXPANDS at Walmart and Beyond! 🚨 

    Portsmouth Scioto County

    49 Felony Counts! Portsmouth & Wheelersburg Suspects Busted in Multi-County Crime Sweep — Wanted Parolee Nabbed 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 08/22/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Elder Safety

    Elder Abuse or Just Stubbornness? 

    SCDN File Photo

    Hammer Horror in Otway! Man Barricades Himself After Alleged Attack on Stepfather 

    SCDN File Photo

    🚨 Child Knocks Van Into Gear — Woman Pinned Against Building on Scioto Trail 

    Trinida Castro

    🎂 Murder Suspect Turns 18—Now Facing Big-Time Charges in Adult Jail 

    Sticker Shock: $2,500 a Day Foster Case Highlights Broken System in Scioto County 

    Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    14 New Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 08/21/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    Scottie Powell

    Powell Calls on Commissioner Davis to Resign 

    Scioto County Bryan Davis Scandal

    🗓 Timeline of a Scandal: How Scioto County’s Economic Development Crisis Unfolded 

    Bryan Davis

    Commissioner Bryan Davis and Wife Indicted in Scioto Scandal 

    Joey Sandlin

    Joey Sandlin Announces Inauguration Ceremony  

    Erie Canal Lock 50

    After Nearly a Decade of Talk, Scioto County Moves Closer to Restoring Historic Lock 50 

    Portsmouth City Council 2023

    Portsmouth City Council Considers More Cash for Lawsuit Defense 

    West Virginia SNAP

    🚨No More Free Pop? West Virginia Bans Soda from SNAP—Should Ohio Be Next?🚨 

    We Don’t Do Roads!: Scioto Commissioners Clarify Who’s Really in Charge of Road Repairs 

    “I’m Not Here to Replace Cathy”: New Commissioner Merit Smith Says He’ll Lead with Life Experience 

    Merit Smith

    Merit Smith Chosen to Fill Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    Scottie Powell

    “Run on Vision, Not Attacks”: Powell Offers Advice to Candidates Vying for Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    🌿 Bamboo Gets Fast-Tracked at City Hall — But the Homeless Crisis? Still Stuck in Neutral 

    Who Will Carry Cathy’s Torch? GOP to Choose Coleman’s Replacement July 29 

    Cathy Coleman

    Commissioners Back Senior Housing Project Championed by Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    “Bad and Quirky” Lucasville House Targeted for Demolition as County Cracks Down on Blighted Properties 

    ‘A Great Addition to Heaven’: Commissioners Honor Cathy Coleman, Reflect on Her Legacy and Who Might Carry It Forward 

    Cathy Coleman

    Scioto County Mourns Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    🚨TRIAL TWIST! Horton Corruption Case on Ice—For Now 

    Cathy Coleman

    Remembering Scioto County Commissioner Cathy Coleman

    somc 2

    🏥 Scioto County Approves Hospital Tax to Keep Medicaid Dollars Local 

  • Feel Good
    A man sitting in a vehicle is handing over an ID card to a female police officer standing by his window.

    Tips for Staying Calm During Police Encounters

    Cyn Mackley

    Cyn Mackley Channels Haunted Appalachia

    A group of friends stand around a table, smiling, laughing, and drinking. There are plates of food on the table.

    Creative Ways To Host Outdoor Events This Summer

    A family of two parents and a young boy and girl are playing laser tag with vests and laser blasters in an arena.

    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

    Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup 

    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

    Three girls in quinceañera dresses stand beside one another. The one in middle has a gold dress while the other two wear pink.

    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

    An angler standing at the edge of a lake just after sunset with three fishing rods resting on the ground next to him.

    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

    good cops

    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

    good cops

    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

    A group of people stands outside with their arms in the air. They hold their hands together, making a pyramid shape.

    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

    good cops

    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

    A bearded man is sitting on the floor and comforting his dog in a wheelchair. The dog has his ears pinned back.

    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

    U.S. housing market

    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

  • Obituaries

    Thaddeus Matthew Blizzard, 58, of Fort Worth

    Barbara Williams

    Connie Jane Viars Snyder, 76 of South Shore

    Garry E. Adkins

    Garry E. Adkins, 74 of South Webster

    Leeroy William Bush

    Leeroy William Bush “Bill”,81 of Casstown

    Jean Faye Lauro

    Jean Faye Lauro, 91, of Wheelersburg

    Donald Richard Aeh

    Donald Richard Aeh, 89, of Portsmouth

    Ethel Marlene Teeters

    Ethel Marlene Teeters, 64 of Portsmouth

    Norma Jean Cole

    Norma Jean Cole 88, of South Webster

    was a 1974 graduate of Minford High School. Albert worked as a mechanic most of his life, starting at Standard Oil/ Sohio in 1974 and moved to Meenach's Garage in 1991. He was saved May 23, 2021, and attended Cedar Street Church, Church of Christ in Christian Union. 

    Albert E. Potters, 69 of Wheelersburg,

    Evelyn Angela Galloway, 89 of New Boston

    William McGinnis

    Stephen Ray Lucas, 53 of Piketon

    Wanda Lou Payton

    Wanda Lou Payton, 80 of Minford

    Marjorie K. Bloomfield

    Marjorie K. Bloomfield, 96 of Portsmouth

    Daisy Janell Hall

    Daisy Janell Hall, 45 of Minford

    William McGinnis

    Vaughn Ray Chamberlin, 86 of Wheelersburg

    Barbara Williams

    Daisy Janell Hall, 45 of Minford

    David M. Bussa

    David M. Bussa, 74 of Sciotoville

    Rebecca Schumacher

    Rebecca Schumacher, 43 of Jackson

    Jackie M. Shaw

    Jackie M. Shaw age 80 of Portsmouth

    Elizabeth Broom

    Elizabeth Broom, 83 of Ironton

  • More News
    • All News
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Education
    • Economy
    • Food & Drinks
    • Local Business
    • National
    • Opinion
    • Regional
    • Strange But True
    • Trending
No Result
View All Result
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Second Chance for Local Drug Addicts

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
5 years ago
in Public Safety
addiction
ShareTweetEmail
Portsmouth Ohio drugs

Scioto County is willing to give low-level drug offenders a second chance but many are afraid to accept it.  Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman contacted us to get the word out about a life-changing program.

Low-level drug offenders get a chance to walk away without a criminal record. Plus, they get the necessary help to get on the right patch and stay there.  Let’s look at why Tieman started the program and who’s allowed to take part.

RELATED POSTS

When Friends Become Headlines 

🚨 Not What It Looked Like: Deputies Step Into Social Worker Role in West Portsmouth 

🚨 “I’m Dying!” Woman Storms Portsmouth Fire Station — First Responders Step Up in Mental Health Crisis 

Drugs are the Root of the Problem

If you ask Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman what the root of most of the crime in the county is, he’ll tell you in one word: ‘drugs.’

He said that when after his election in 2018, he had a lot of discussions with officials and citizens about the best way to help addicts. His goal was to get drug users back on the right track and turn them into productive members of society. That doesn’t mean he wanted to let people entirely off the hook for their actions.

“I wanted to make sure there was a way to hold people accountable for crimes and still get treatment.”

Chance for a Reset

Tieman started an early intervention program back in March of 2019. The program offered a second chance to some low-level drug offenders. The requirements:

  • No violence
  • No victims
  • Not too much of a previous record

Offenders are invited to participate in a treatment program. If they are successful for six months, Tieman declined to charge or indict them.

The prosecutor said, “So, they wouldn’t have an indictment on their record. They would have an opportunity for a reset.”

Why is that reset so important? It leaves the participants with a clean criminal record. That can make a world of difference when applying for a job.

Catch Them Early On

Prosecutor Tieman said the problem with other intervention programs like drug court is that they happen later in the criminal justice process, generally after someone is indicted. “That means that when people look at your record they see an indictment. We wanted to hit them a little earlier in the cycle.”

Many times it can take months after the initial arrest to even get to an indictment. During that time, new offenders fall deeper into the cycle of addiction. “People could be further into their addiction and they run the risk of overdosing. The quicker we can address the situation, the better.”

But Tieman faced a big problem. “The judicial system isn’t really set up to do this kind of thing very well.”

Please Support This Local Business

We’re The Bad Guys

Tieman reached out to local law enforcement agencies and public defenders. He found that they were enthusiastic about the idea.

The people the program is aimed at were not convinced. “Inviting someone in the throes of addiction to talk to the prosecutor about their problem doesn’t go over well. We’re the bad guys. We’re keeping them away from drugs.”

Defendants even tend to regard their own defense attorneys as part of a system that is stacked against them.

The Solution

Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman struggled to get defendants to take the second chance his office offered. Then the Portsmouth City Health Department reached out to him back in October of 2019. “We thought maybe those folks would listen to them better than me.”

The health department already had a navigation system in place to refer people to needed resources. Tieman said plans had just started to fall into place when COVID-19 hit.

Now, the health department and the prosecutor are ready to get this program off the ground.

The Help They Need

Hannah Matthews is a client navigator with the Portsmouth City Health Department. She explained that they don’t just help offenders find a rehab program. The department takes a holistic approach to help folks get their lives right.

  • Clients are referred to rehab, treatment, and detox centers as needed.
  • Assistance in applying for Medicaid is offered, if necessary.
  • There’s a food pantry and housing assistance available.
  • Help is offered for completing your education and finding a job.

The Portsmouth City Health Department administers a Vivitrol program as well. The Vivitrol shot blocks cravings for opiates and alcohol. Unlike other medications prescribed for addicts, it does not addictive properties.

Participants must have a clean drug test and participate in counseling.

Both Tieman and the Health Department want to make it clear that they are not monitoring the private details of participants’ rehab treatment. They are informed if the patient is participating in rehab or has successfully completed a program. If a client makes satisfactory progress over a period of a few months, charges are dismissed.

“I get a general report from health navigation that tells me they are still in the program,” Tieman said. “I don’t get into the details of the treatment itself. At some point, after I see that they are doing well, I decline to press charges.”

How It Works

Tieman said there are two ways he finds candidates for the program.

Law enforcement agencies submit reports for arrests they think meet the criteria

“For example, say the Ohio State Patrol finds a small amount of illegal narcotics on a traffic stop. That might be a case the submit to us.”

Tieman’s Office reviews charges and arrests in Portsmouth Municipal Court

“I get the report their criminal history and the evidence. I determine whether or not they would be a good referral. He then forwards those cases to the health department.”

The Portsmouth City Health Department then calls the person or sends out a letter. The client undergoes an assessment that takes about an hour to determine what type of help they need.

Tieman said he would encourage anyone who believes they might be eligible to contact the Portsmouth City Health Department at (740) 353-5153 or have their defense attorney get in touch.

“We want to get as many qualified people into treatment as we can to turn their life around.”

Everybody Wins

The Prosecutor said that a program like this doesn’t just benefit the offenders.

“You look at a person who is not going through the court system, their mom or dad, their kids, their life is going to improve.”

Employment-ready workers with clean records make the area more attractive to businesses. “They don’t even have the little blip of an indictment and a dismissal.”

Tieman also said it saves his office time and money. “Everyone we get in is one less indictment, two or three less hearings. It saves a lot of court time. It limits jail population and gives us space for violent offenders.”

Right now, the biggest hurdle is getting the word out and convincing those eligible to participate. The prosecutor said, “That’s the step we really got to get down. How do we really grab their attention? How do we get them in?”

Portsmouth Ohio drugs
Tags: CrimeFeaturedHealthPortsmouth OhioScioto County
Please Support This Local Business

TRENDING NOW

Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 08/20/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

August 20, 2025

💊 Franklin Furnace Woman Busted: Facing a Mountain of Drug Charges 

August 20, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 08/19/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

August 19, 2025

Man Struck by Race Car in Wheelersburg 

August 20, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 08/18/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

August 18, 2025

ABOUT US

We are a grassroots team of local journalists on a mission to give our community up-to-the-second news and events for Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Western West Virginia. We believe progress inspires change and we believe our reporting has become the front-lines of Portsmouth, Ohio's comeback.

CATEGORIES

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Casino
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • Food & Drink
  • Local Business
  • National
  • Obituaries
  • Ohio
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Public Safety
  • Regional
  • Strange But True
  • Video

AREAS SERVED

  • Portsmouth
  • Wheelersburg
  • Minford
  • Waverly
  • Friendship
  • Ironton
  • West Union
  • Piketon
  • Coal Grove
  • South Point
  • Vanceburg
  • Grayson
  • South Shore
  • Greenup
  • Raceland
  • Ashland

SITE SEARCH

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.