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KY Attorney General supports alternative treatment for opioid use disorder

A stock image of a handful of pills
pixabay.com
A stock image of a handful of pills

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron supports the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission’s plans to invest in alternative treatments for the opioid epidemic. One substance they are considering is Ibogaine. It is derived from plants commonly found in west Africa.

Ibogaine is currently listed as a Schedule One substance, which is defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Cameron said it is time something is done to deal with the opioid problem.

“We need to look for innovative ways in which to fight the opioid epidemic. This has been a problem that has plagued our people for far too long and I know Bryan and his team are looking at new ways to end this plague.”

The “Bryan” he is referring to is Bryan Hubbard, the chair and executive director of the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission.

Last week, Hubbard said the commission will explore the idea of spending no less than, $42 million over the next 6 years for the creation public and private partnerships to drive the development of Ibogaine all the way through the FDA approval process.

During his campaign stop in Richmond on Friday, Cameron said he is glad to see that the commission is taking action.

“But I’m excited by what they are undertaking and working on. There are folks that have talked about the opioid epidemic but have done nothing.”

Daniel Cameron, a Republican, is running for Governor against Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear in November.

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Stan Ingold is WEKU's News Director. He has worked in public broadcasting for 18 years, starting at Morehead State Public Radio before spending the past 10 years at Alabama Public Radio. Stan has been honored with numerous journalism awards for his public radio reporting.
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