On May 31, Kentucky’s Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission announced that it will be allocating approximately $42 million from the state’s Opioid Settlement Fund to research the psychedelic drug, ibogaine. This decision — framed as a way to combat opioid dependence in the future — is misguided, and funds could be used in a number of ways[Read More…]
Author: Kentucky Recovery News
Kentucky group shares plan to explore new therapeutic treatments for opioid addiction
By Charity Blanton FRANKFORT, KY — The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission announced Wednesday plans to pursue new therapeutic treatment options for Kentuckians affected by opioid use disorder. The commission says their proposal includes investigating new treatments to “reverse the chemical effects of opioid addiction,” including withdrawal symptoms. They say they will collaborate[Read More…]
Bipartisan senators look to add fentanyl provision to defense policy bill
BY ELLEN MITCHELL Two senators are taking aim at fentanyl trafficking by trying to add a provision to the annual defense policy bill that would make it a national security threat. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) look to propose the Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act as an amendment to the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)[Read More…]
A rural county’s choice: Use opioid funds to pay off debt, or pay them forward to curb crisis
BY: ANERI PATTANI Over the past two years, rural Greene County in northeastern Tennessee has collected more than $2.7 million from regional and national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. But instead of helping people harmed by addiction, county officials are finding other ways to spend it. They have put $2.4 million toward[Read More…]
Fentanyl-related drugs permanently made criminal under bill passed by U.S. House
BY: ASHLEY MURRAY WASHINGTON — Lawmakers in the U.S. House passed bipartisan legislation Thursday in an effort to curb staggering overdose deaths from illegal fentanyl substances that are illicitly produced and up to 50 times stronger than heroin. The HALT Fentanyl Act, passed on a 289-133 vote with 74 Democratic votes and support from[Read More…]
Xylazine Crisis: 6 Things Treatment Providers Should Know
Recently, Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, FACP, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), declared xylazine—a powerful livestock tranquilizer that’s mixed into fentanyl for IV drug users—an “emerging threat,” forcing the government to develop a federal plan to address the crisis. While Congress considers a bill to classify the[Read More…]
New nasal spray to reverse fentanyl and other opioid overdoses gets FDA approval
This photo provided by Indivior in May 2023 shows their drug Opvee. On Monday, May 22, 2023, U.S. health regulators approved the medication to reverse overdoses caused by fentanyl and other powerful opioids, which are currently driving the nation’s drug crisis.(Indivior via AP) By The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.[Read More…]
Attorney General Cameron Urges Congress to Protect Kentuckians from Illicit Xylazine
By Kentucky Attorney General Cameron FRANKFORT, Ky. – KY Attorney General Daniel Cameron urged Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. The bipartisan legislation would curb the widespread use and trafficking of xylazine and help prevent overdose deaths. Xylazine is a pharmaceutical drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug[Read More…]
New rehab center to open doors within 2 months; Adkins named site administrator
Addiction Recovery Care (ARC), a faith-based drug rehabilitation organization, plans to open its Owensboro location within 45 days — with hopes to bring approximately 125 new jobs and serve up to 300 clients. The location will be called Yellow Banks Recovery Center, and Sarah Adkins has been site administrator. The recovery[Read More…]
PCFC begins discussions about National Opioid Settlement funds
The Pike County Fiscal Court recently voted to appoint a committee to present recommendations for the use of funds received from the National Opioid Settlement. According to Pike County Judge-Executive Ray Jones, Pike County received approximately $890,000 from the settlement. Although it is ultimately the court’s decision, Jones said, there[Read More…]