How One CEO Is Changing Addiction Treatment in Cuyahoga County | The RealPower.TV Podcast

Mental illness and addiction are brain diseases. Not character flaws, not weakness, not something a person chooses. Treatment works, and people recover. Scott Osiecki runs the ADAMHS Board — the body that plans and funds mental health and addiction care across Cuyahoga County. He sits down with Kenn Dowell to lay out what actually exists here, what it costs, and how to reach it. This one is practical. If somebody in your life is struggling, the information in this hour is the kind you cannot easily get anywhere else. 📞 If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In this episode: What the ADAMHS Board is and what it actually funds The fentanyl crisis and its rising impact in the African American community Workforce shortages and what that means for wait times Harm reduction: Narcan, test strips, and community vending machines The Cuyahoga County Diversion Center — a voluntary alternative to jail for people in crisis How the 988 crisis line works and what happens when you call Care Response Teams and faith-based outreach The living room model crisis center and what is coming next Debunking the misconceptions that keep people from asking for help ABOUT THE GUEST Scott Osiecki is CEO of the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County. 💬 Did you know the Diversion Center existed? Most people don't. Share this with someone who should. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction 02:15 – What Is the ADAMHS Board? 05:30 – Digital Access and Mental Health Services 08:45 – Workforce Shortages and the Fentanyl Crisis 12:00 – Impact on the African American Community 15:15 – Harm Reduction and Community Vending Machines 18:30 – The Cuyahoga County Diversion Center Explained 22:00 – How to Use the 988 Crisis Line 25:45 – Care Response Teams and Faith-Based Outreach 29:15 – Scott Osiecki's Personal Journey 32:30 – Future Projects and the Living Room Model 34:00 – Debunking Mental Health Misconceptions 35:42 – Final Message ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ABOUT REALPOWER.TV RealPower.TV is Black-led digital newsprint out of Cleveland — politics, culture, faith, and community power, explained in plain English by people who have been in the room. 🌐 RealPower.TV — the newsroom: https://realpower.tv 📩 The RealPower Digital Newsprint — the strategy behind the story: https://realpower.tv/join/?utm_source... 🔔 Subscribe:    / @realpowertvnetwork   📻 The RealPower Radio Show — Tuesdays 12–1PM on RealPower.tv and 95.9 FM WOVU FOLLOW 📸 Instagram:   / realpower.tv   📘 Facebook:   / realpower.tv   📸 Kenn Dowell:   / kendowell   Kenn Dowell is the founder of RealPower.TV and CEO of Strategic Resources Consulting. Government and community relations: aStrategicMove.com Stay Strategic. Stay Ready. Move with Purpose. © RealPower.TV #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #CuyahogaCounty #988 #Fentanyl #HarmReduction #CivicPower #RealPowerTV