For many years, criminal justice advocates have been pleading with the General Assembly to take stock of outdated laws and make sure they meet the needs of Kentuckians today. Many of these conversations have rightfully focused on how the criminal justice system approaches individuals in the strongholds of addiction. From[Read More…]
Treatment
Legislation to Help More Kentuckians Reach Long-term Recovery Should Be Signed Into Law
By Amanda Newton If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the last 12 months, it’s that good things can happen when people work together. The COVID-19 era has brought many challenges, but from the earliest days of the pandemic, we’ve seen shining examples of individuals and communities setting aside their[Read More…]
$700,000 grant given to Volunteers of America to Assist in the Road to Recovery
Volunteers of America received a $700,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime grant program to establish a Family Recovery Court in Clay County, Kentucky. The funding will help reunite families while keeping children safe and emphasizing long-term recovery. This comes after the Clay County[Read More…]
Hospital Emergency Rooms Struggle With Overdose Spike During Pandemic
New research from the CDC shows that patients experiencing drug-related crises continued to visit hospital emergency rooms, even while others avoided the ER due to fears over the coronavirus. In an interview with NPR, CDC researcher Kristin Holland said that “people are indeed experiencing poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and[Read More…]
Kentucky General Assembly Adopts Resolutions to Address Social Determinants of Addiction Recovery
Resolutions urge a more comprehensive approach to addiction treatment and long-term recovery FRANKFORT, Ky. – RECON KY, a statewide coalition committed to helping more Kentuckians reach long-term recovery, applauds the General Assembly for adopting resolutions to recognize the Social Determinants of Addiction Recovery. The resolutions, introduced by Senate President Robert Stivers and Representative Adam Bowling, were[Read More…]
Organizations Stepping Up to Meet the Growing Need for Substance Abuse Treatment
As states went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed overdose deaths increased nearly 21 percent – and the same went for Kentucky. The impact of isolation, job loss and stay-at-home orders created an environment for relapse and overdose. Fortunately,[Read More…]
In Focus: Kentucky Chamber on Push to Establish ‘Recovery Ready Communities Across the Commonwealth
A new bill making its way through the General Assembly is aimed at making Kentucky communities “Recovery Ready” — and it already has the support of some of the state’s leading treatment providers and recovery advocates, including the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. The legislation, House Bill 7, is sponsored by[Read More…]
General Assembly Considers Criminal Justice Reforms, Legislation to Address Addiction Crisis
Legislation is already moving quickly through the Kentucky General Assembly. House Bill 7, Rep. Bowling’s legislation to create Recovery Ready communities, was voted out of committee last week and now heads to the House floor. You can send a message to your legislators and urge them to vote YES on[Read More…]
Woman completes drug recovery, supports bill ensuring ‘recovery ready’ communities
In 2017, Desiree Powell of Bowling Green was incarcerated for drug charges. Today, she’s using her experience navigating the criminal justice system to advocate for her fellow Kentuckians who are struggling with substance use disorders. As Kentucky continues to deal with a major addiction epidemic, Desiree is calling on legislators[Read More…]
New Central Kentucky Recovery Center Transforms Old College Campus
Addiction Recovery Care transformed the old Saint Catharine College into a 250,000 square foot treatment and recovery center in Washington County, Kentucky. The facility offers a four-phase treatment plan, including detox, recovery, life skills and job training to help people reintegrate into society. Read how the facility is already helping[Read More…]