Photos provided Kyle Overmyer, former Ohio sheriff, motivational speaker and addiction recovery advocate, will share his story on Sept. 14 at the Barnesville Youth Center.

BARNESVILLE — The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Belmont, Harrison and Monroe counties will welcome Kyle Overmyer, former Ohio sheriff, motivational speaker and addiction recovery advocate, to share his story from 5-6:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the Barnesville Youth Center. The event will be free to the public.

At 34 years old, Overmyer was the youngest sheriff in Ohio when he was appointed in Sandusky County in 2008 in Fremont, Ohio.

While serving as sheriff, Overmyer was diagnosed with arthritis from previous sports injuries and prescribed Vicodin for the pain. He eventually became addicted to the prescribed medication and started doctor shopping and taking medications from the sheriff “prescription takeback boxes” to feed his addiction.

A grand jury criminally indicted Overmyer for 42 related felony drug charges. He eventually pled guilty to 12 counts, was sentenced and served 4 years in prison. He served his full term in Allen Correctional Prison in Lima, Ohio.

Overmyer posted on his website for Knock Out Addiction, “I was absolutely broken in a physical, financial and spiritual manner. I was rock bottom. At first, I looked at all these as problems and felt like it was the end of my life. I felt like a total failure, especially being a father and letting down my children.”

Overmyer was released from prison on Apr. 4, 2020, and now has been sober for over eight years. He now works in recovery, shares his story as a motivational speaker and advocates for first responders through Knock Out Addiction, LLC, which he founded to help others.

Overmyer posted on his website for Knock Out Addiction, “Having been on both sides of the law and a recovering addict, I have found my true passion. … I have been given so many windows of opportunity to evolve as a human being in so many aspects. All in all, we will never achieve success without failure.”

The Barnesville Youth Center, also known as the Albert S. George Youth Center, is located at 130 Fair St. in Barnesville.

The event will be held to observe National Recovery Month in September.

Those who wish to attend the event can register at eventbrite.com by searching for Kyle Overmyer.

For more information about Overmyer and his story, visit koaddiction.org or go to Kyle Overmyer’s Facebook page. For more information about the event, visit the Facebook page for Mental Health and Recovery Board serving Belmont, Harrison and Monroe Counties.

The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Belmont, Harrison and Monroe counties strives to foster a mental health and addiction system of care in partnership with the community.