LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Governor Beshear announced Thursday that Kentucky received a $37.2 million federal grant towards fighting addiction.
The three year Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services grant will help local non-profits like Shepherd’s House.
It provides funds to The Kentucky Overdoses Response Effort (KORE) to save lives. It will expand their existing efforts to prevent overdoses and provide treatment for people struggling with addiction.
“We are fighting something that doesn’t seem to want to go away,” Sean Schomp, director of operations at Shepherds House says.
At recovery non-profits like Shepherds House, the extra funding will allow them to create new programs and hire more staff. Schomp says these opportunities keep people in recovery.
“All of our clients are people who struggle with something…not for a year, they struggle with it for 10, 15, 30 years and to fix the problem they need long-term recovery,” Schomp says.
The Governor’s office says there has been an almost 10% decrease in fatal drug overdose deaths since last year.
Schomp says he’s happy for the decrease, but, “one death is still too many.”
He says a decrease in overdoses could just mean people are switching to different drugs, like methamphetamine.
“Our drug addiction problem is still very much there,” Schomp says.
The Beshear Administration says the grant will add onto the work KORE is already doing to fight against addiction and overdoses in the commonwealth. It’ll also address stimulant misuse, including cocaine and methamphetamine.
“When the state gets money like that and we have the possibility to get it, it gives us hope that we can continue fighting this disease,” Schomp says.
The Governor’s office says Kentucky has the most residential drug and alcohol treatment beds over any other state.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, you or they can call the KY HELP Call Center at 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357).
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