Substance Use Disorder

Knott, Lawrence and Floyd counties are being granted the “recovery ready community” title by the Commonwealth for their work in curbing substance use disorder.

Eastern Kentucky treatment network Addiction Recovery Care says they expect a spike in calls for treatment care as the new year begins.

State lawmakers spoke with members of the Kentucky Association of Independent Recovery Organizations last week to discuss ways to improve addiction treatment policy ahead of the upcoming general legislative session.

The Kentucky Association of Health Plans is giving $750,000 dollars to neonatal care company NASCEND to help improve access to treatment for opioid-exposed infants in rural areas.

The designation recognizes Boone, Campbell, Grant, Kenton, Perry and Woodford counties for their efforts to help those in substance use recovery. The counties were chosen because of their efforts to provide treatment and support to residents.

Over-the-counter naloxone products are now available at many nationwide pharmacies as of earlier this month. This also comes as a nationwide study from Stateline that reports accidental overdose deaths are the leading cause of death for people under 40 in 37 states, including Kentucky.

Thursday marked International Overdose Awareness Day. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy says more than 2,100 Kentuckians died last year because of an overdose – a five percent decrease from the year prior. 90 percent of those deaths were from opioids.

The Fletcher Group, a nonprofit that helps people recover from substance use disorder, is getting $3.3 million from the U.S. Department of Health to combat the opioid epidemic in Kentucky.

Three million dollars from the state Office of Drug Control Policy are going to treatment services for pregnant and parenting women recovering from substance use disorder.

The White House has released a National Response Plan to combat xylazine mixed with fentanyl.