Editor’s note: Photos of today’s event can be found here. 

FRANKFORT, KY - On September 16, 2024, Gov. Andy Beshear joined state and local leaders and recovery advocates at the state Capitol to recognize Recovery Month in Kentucky. The Governor also certified four counties as Recovery Ready Communities, bringing the total to 18, and ceremonially signed three pieces of legislation supporting addiction recovery in the commonwealth.

“We have made great strides in getting dangerous drugs off our streets and increasing access to addiction treatment resources in the commonwealth, but we still have more to do,” said Gov. Beshear. “My goal is to make sure every Kentuckian brave enough to take that first step to create a better life has the support they need to overcome addiction. I truly believe we can do that by putting in the work and making sure every one of our neighbors feels loved and knows they are not alone.”

Four New Recovery Ready Communities
Gov. Beshear announced that Calloway, Daviess, Fayette and Pulaski counties have been certified as Recovery Ready Communities. Since the first county was announced in May 2023, the state has certified a total of 18 counties for establishing services to residents who are seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction in three different categories: prevention, treatment and recovery support.

For more, see the full release.

House Bill 462
The Governor ceremonially signed House Bill 462, sponsored by Rep. Steve Bratcher, which addresses gaps in certification requirements and strengthens the framework for recovery housing, ensuring these facilities provide safe, supportive environments for individuals in recovery.

Senate Bill 71
Gov. Beshear signed Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Sen. Phillip Wheeler, which expands access to transportation services for people in recovery residences, protects the Alternative Sentencing Worker Program and prohibits any person from receiving monetary compensation for referrals into addiction treatment facilities.

House Bill 505
Finally, the Governor signed House Bill 505, sponsored by Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, which expands the Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors and establishes criteria for registration as a “temporary alcohol and drug peer support specialist.”

Fighting Addiction in Kentucky
In June, the Governor announced that Kentucky saw a 9.8% decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2023, the commonwealth’s second consecutive annual decrease. 

In May, the Governor announced that Kentucky’s Counterdrug Program helped save Kentuckians’ lives by supporting the seizure of 265,170 fentanyl pills and 208.3 pounds of fentanyl during the 2023 federal fiscal year. 

In 2023, the state supported the distribution of more than 160,000 doses of Narcan. The state’s Treatment Access Program also allows those without health insurance to enter residential treatment.

Kentucky leads the nation in the number of residential drug and alcohol treatment beds per capita. The administration has also recorded the three lowest recidivism rates in over a decade. This year, Gov. Beshear announced a new website to help Kentuckians seeking second chances find a job, get an education or continue recovery. The site also connects business leaders with resources to help them hire second-chance talent. 

Treatment Resources
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, the KY HELP Call Center can connect you to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357). Information about treatment programs all across the commonwealth is available at FindHelpNowKy.org. Information on how to obtain the life-saving drug naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, can be found at that website as well as at FindNaloxone.ky.gov and FindMentalHealthNowKy.org.

Last year, Gov. Beshear announced a new searchable website to help people find recovery housing, FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org. Since the website’s launch, over 24,000 individuals have been connected to recovery housing resources across the commonwealth.

Visit the Kentucky State Police website to find a post where those suffering from addiction can be paired with a local officer who will assist with locating an appropriate treatment program through KSP’s Angel Initiative.