Narcan is an opioid reversal treatment. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)
Help is available to Kentuckians living with addiction. For resources, visit https://findhelpnow.org/ky. In physical emergencies, call 911. For mental health crises, call or text 988. Locate free Naloxone (Narcan), which can reverse overdoses, near you here.
The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is awarding more than 100 organizations over $34 million in grant funding in its largest settlement distribution so far.
The commission oversees distributing more than $900 million in opioid settlement funds across the state. According to its website, it has already allocated more than $85 million to 130 organizations.
Speaking Thursday in Lexington, Attorney General Russell Coleman described the settlement funds as “blood money.”
“What we spend, what we announce — it is blood money to those that have lost their sons and their daughters,” Coleman said.
Grant recipients for 2026-2027 include:
$800,000 to Volunteers of America MidStates to support Recovery Community Center operations in Pulaski, Lincoln, and Calloway counties, providing peer support, education, outreach, and recovery services.
$750,000 to the Franklin County Health Department.
$748,576 to Recovery Cafe Lexington, Inc. for work in Boyle, Fayette, Franklin, Whitley, and Harlan counties.
$648,674 to the Kentucky Pharmacists Association to provide medications for opioid use disorder in jails across Greenup, Marion, and Mason counties.
$631,323 to KVC Behavioral Healthcare Kentucky, Inc. for the Elevate Mothers and Build Addiction Recovery in Kentucky program supporting pregnant mothers in Boyd, Perry, Letcher, Greenup, and Pike counties.
$600,000 to the Kentucky Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs for programs in Barren, Warren, Daviess, Harlan, and Jefferson counties.
$553,864 to Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, Inc. for services in Jefferson and Oldham counties.
$500,000 to the Northern Kentucky Area Development District for initiatives in Boone, Campbell, Kenton, Grant, and Pendleton counties.
$500,000 to Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment & Education (Operation UNITE) for programs in Pulaski, Martin, Lawrence, Russell, and Madison counties.
$500,000 to Oxford House, Inc. to expand access to peer-led recovery housing in Jefferson, Fayette, Kenton, Boone, and Campbell counties.
The most recent overdose fatality report shows deaths declined for the third consecutive year, though 1,410 people still died in 2024.
“That’s an improvement. But for the 1,410 families who still have an empty chair in their house, last year was not a win,” Coleman said. “This is a moving target. We do not rest on our laurels. We are not there yet by a long, long shot, and that’s why we are investing these dollars in a wise fashion.”
In 2023, Kentucky recorded 1,984 overdose deaths, down from 2,135 in 2022.
Deaths among Black Kentuckians also declined in 2024, reversing previous increases. That year, 170 Black residents died from overdoses, compared to 259 in 2022 and 264 in 2023.
What to do in the event of an overdose
Experts advise people, especially those at higher risk, to carry Narcan so they can respond to an overdose if needed.
A person cannot administer Narcan to themselves, but they can share it with others who may use it in an emergency.
Signs of an overdose include:
Labored or absent breathing
Unresponsiveness
Blue or gray lips or nails
Choking or gurgling sounds
Pale or clammy skin
If you believe someone is overdosing, experts recommend:
Call 911 immediately.
Try to speak to the person and inform them of your actions.
Use your knuckles to rub the person’s chest to check responsiveness.
If there is no response, administer Narcan.
Instructions for using Narcan include:
Lay the person on their back.
Tilt their head back.
Insert the Narcan nozzle into one nostril.
Press the plunger and remove the device.
If there is no response after two minutes, repeat the process.
Stay with the person until emergency responders arrive.
Leave a Reply