A $37.2 million grant goes to fight addiction in KY

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Governor Beshear announced Thursday that Kentucky received a $37.2 million federal grant to fight addiction.

The three-year substance abuse and mental health services grant will help local nonprofits like Shepherd’s House.

It provides funds to The Kentucky Overdoses Response Effort (KORE) to save lives. It will expand its existing efforts to prevent overdoses and provide treatment for people struggling with addiction.

“We’re fighting something that just doesn’t seem to want to go away,” says Sean Schomp, chief operating officer at Shepherds House.

For recovery nonprofits like Shepherds House, the additional 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 are struggling with something … not for one year, but struggling for 10, 15, 30 years and to fix the problem they need long-term recovery,” says Schomp.

The governor’s office says there has been a nearly 10 percent decrease in fatal drug overdose deaths since last year.

Schomp says he’s happy about the decrease, but “one death is still too many.”

He says a decrease in overdoses could mean people are switching to different drugs, such as methamphetamine.

“Our drug addiction problem is still there,” says Schomp.

The Beshear Administration says the grant will add to the work KORE is already doing to fight addiction and overdoses in the Commonwealth. It will also address the misuse of stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

“When the state gets money like that and we have the ability to get it, it gives us hope that we can continue to fight this disease,” says Schomp.

The governor’s office says Kentucky has the most residential drug and alcohol treatment beds of any other state.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you can call the KY HELP Call Center at 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357).

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