By Representative Chris Freeland
Few challenges have weighed more heavily on Kentucky families and communities than substance abuse. Addiction has touched every county, every community, every school district, and countless homes across the Commonwealth. It tears apart families, burdens our health care and justice systems, and cruelly steals both lives and livelihoods. However, there is hope.
Each September we mark National Recovery Month, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the courage of those who have fought their way back from addiction, the families who have stood beside them, and the men and women who dedicate themselves to walking with Kentuckians on the road to recovery. Their stories remind us that while substance abuse is one of our greatest challenges, recovery is possible.
For more than two decades, our state has battled wave after wave of addiction. Methamphetamines, prescription painkillers, heroin, fentanyl, and now synthetic drugs have taken a terrible toll. Each chapter has brought new challenges, but nonprofits, government, and the private sector continue to work together to overcome. Lawmakers, local officials, treatment providers, law enforcement, educators, and faith leaders have all taken steps to respond to the needs of our people.
The Kentucky General Assembly has passed landmark legislation to curb the overprescribing of opioids, regulate pain clinics, and strengthen prescription monitoring programs. These measures helped slow the flood of pills that once fueled widespread addiction. At the same time, lawmakers expanded access to treatment and recovery services, understanding that punishment alone would not solve the crisis. That is why programs like Casey’s Law, which allows families to petition courts for involuntary treatment of loved ones, are critical.
The legislature has invested in recovery and partnered with local governments to expand treatment options in underserved areas. In particular, the legislature created framework for the investment of money the state receives from the opioid settlement fund, the result of a multi-state lawsuit against the manufacturers of opioids. Kentucky will receive nearly $900 million from major pharmaceutical companies as a result of the lawsuit. All of the money will go towards prevention, treatment, recovery, and public health efforts, with half going directly to cities and counties and half to the state.
We also recognize how critical having a job is to sustaining recovery and worked to help those in recovery get access to skill training and job opportunities. Our efforts in this area include the creation of the “Recovery Ready” community designation, which includes removing barriers to the workforce and providing employment services as part of recovery resources. The legislature also created the Kentucky Transformational Employment Program to help Kentucky employers find and retain the workforce they need to support and grow their businesses by outlining steps to facilitate access to treatment for current and prospective employees. In turn, more individuals with an addiction gain access to treatment and are able to maintain employment.
Prevention is also possible and the General Assembly has supported education and outreach programs to help young people understand the risks of substance use before addiction takes hold. Recognizing the rise of fentanyl, lawmakers passed measures to crack down on drug dealers, including toughening sentences on those convicted of the trafficking.
Kentucky has also worked to address the mental health needs that so often accompany addiction. Legislative efforts to increase access to behavioral health services, particularly in rural communities, are breaking down barriers that once kept people from seeking help. Telehealth expansion, another initiative supported by lawmakers, ensures more Kentuckians can access counseling and recovery resources regardless of where they live.
Of course, we still have work to do because the fight is far from over. The COVID-19 pandemic added new pressures, with shutdowns isolating individuals in recovery and fueling a surge in overdose deaths. Synthetic opioids continue to be a major threat. But Kentucky has demonstrated resilience and leadership.
At the end of the day, overcoming addiction is about restoring lives, reuniting families, and rebuilding communities. The road to recovery is not an easy one, but our resolve remains strong. With continued state policies, community engagement, and the courage of those who choose recovery each day, our Commonwealth can continue to do our part in turning the tide against addiction.
As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at Chris.Freeland@kylegislature.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.