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SPOTLIGHT
Opioid Settlement Funds in Kentucky
Overview
In 2022, Kentucky finalized a national settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers, securing more than $900 million to address the opioid crisis. These funds will be distributed over several years, with 50 percent going directly to counties and cities and 50 percent managed by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission.
KACo, in collaboration with the Attorney General’s office, helped ensure counties receive their fair share to support addiction treatment and recovery.
All spending must align with approved uses outlined in Exhibit E of the national settlement and KRS 15.291, focusing on opioid remediation, which is defined as:
Care, treatment, and other programs and expenditures (including reimbursement for past such programs or expenditures except where this Agreement restricts the use of funds solely to future Opioid Remediation) designed to:
(2) treat or mitigate opioid use or related disorders, or
(3) mitigate other alleged effects of, including on those injured as a result of, the opioid epidemic.
You can submit a question about opioid settlement funds HERE.
KACo Contact
Opioid Settlement Advisor
Lauren.carr@kaco.org
A Graves County native, Lauren Carr was driven to advocacy after losing her brother, Justin, to a fentanyl overdose in 2011. Since then, she has led a local community coalition, served as a member of NACo’s Opioid Solutions Leadership Network, and now works statewide providing technical assistance to counties on evidence-based strategies for using opioid settlement funds.
Opioid Settlement Resource Library
The resource library contains links to the national settlement agreement and distribution schedules, information about the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, and resources from NACo and Johns Hopkins University.
Opioid Settlement Trainings and Events
Opioid Settlement News
