Dream.org’s “Public Health is Public Safety Campaign” is meant to move communities away from incarcerating those with behavioral health or addiction problems, and have first responders work more directly with peer support and mental health workers.
State data shows more than 20,000 people are in custody in Kentucky’s local, state and federal prisons as of Sept. 4.
Amanda Hall is Dream.org’s Senior Director for National Campaigns. She says she was previously incarcerated for drug-related offenses, and is working to make state policy easier on those dealing with addiction.
“I couldn't find a job because of my record, I couldn't get housing at the time. You know, we even had laws where I couldn't even get SNAP benefits at first, because of my convictions,” she said.
John Bowman is the group’s Senior Campaign Organizer for Kentucky. He says it’s meant to make interactions with law enforcement safer.
“That's the goal here. We want these interactions to be as safe as possible,” he said. “Our law enforcement was never meant to be our first touchpoint for every substance use or mental health issue.”
Much of his work involves discussing with communities how to spend funds they receive from opioid settlements. In 2022, $900 million in settlement money was given to Kentucky by opioid manufacturers to curb the state’s addiction crisis.
“They don't know what to spend it on. So, you know, I'm okay with that. I just want to make sure that they spend it in the correct way when they do spend it,” he said.
The Kentucky Association of Counties launched a new online system earlier this summer that would make it easier for local governments to report how much opioid settlement money they’re getting, and what they’re spending it on.
The campaign has plans to visit Maysville, Hopkinsville and Lexington later this fall.
