Kentucky has made great strides in recent years to combat addiction and bolster recovery efforts across the state. Governor Andy Beshear announced there are now 31 counties in the Commonwealth named Recovery Ready Communities. They are called so for providing services for more than a million Kentuckians who are seeking help with drug or alcohol addiction. Among the most recently certified Recovery Ready Communities are Boyd, Carter, and Greenup counties.
Governor Beshear said this is the third year in a row Kentucky has had a decrease in overdose deaths. Last year there was an over 30 percent decrease in overdoses from 2023, the largest decrease on record. Beshear said members of Team Kentucky will continue to collaborate with addiction recovery advocacy groups to ensure the current trends.
“We’re doing it by tearing down the stigma of asking for help and ensuring that there are treatment and recovery options in every single community. We have certified Recovery Ready Communities across the Commonwealth representing more than 1.7 million Kentuckians who now have access to affordable and effective treatment options,” said Beshear.
Tara Hyde, CEO of People Advocating for Recovery, said addiction recovery is a lot more than treatment alone. She said full recovery happens when people’s needs are being met.
“What sustains recovery is community and I love that we always talk about the Kentucky Alliance for Recovery Residences that has recently been established. That is so important. Housing - stable, supportive housing - is so important and critical for recovery,” said Hyde.
Officials from recovery advocacy groups are working with the Commonwealth to distribute lifesaving drugs like naloxone free of charge to prevent overdoses.