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County Champion
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.
Advisory committees serve as a vital link between county governments and the diverse stakeholders affected by the opioid crisis. By facilitating collaboration and communication, they can help ensure that decisions regarding the use of funds are informed, strategic and transparent.
Click here to access KACo’s guide to creating an advisory committee in your county.
KACo Contact
Lauren Carr
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.
Technical assistance is available for counties, including:
- Guidance on opioid settlement use
- Review of allowable expenses
- Support for long-term and strategic planning
- Access to templates and standardized forms
- Assistance with mandatory reporting requirements
- Review of best practices and peer examples
- Training and education opportunities
- Referrals to qualified practitioners and subject-matter experts
You can submit a question about opioid settlement funds HERE.
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