Published: 06/16/2026 | Author: Courtney Myers

Twenty Kentucky counties are banding together to tackle the opioid crisis head-on, and they have nearly $1 billion in settlement money to work with.

The Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) has launched its Opioid Solutions Network, a first-of-its-kind cohort designed to help local governments turn settlement funds into real, on-the-ground recovery programs that reach people struggling with opioid addiction before it’s too late.

The Opioid Crisis by the Numbers in Kentucky

Kentucky has long ranked among the hardest-hit states in the national opioid epidemic. The commonwealth is set to receive approximately $1 billion in opioid settlement funds as part of the National Settlement Agreement

It was a nearly $50 billion nationwide payout from pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors held accountable for their role in fueling opioid abuse across the country.

Half of those settlement dollars flow to the state government, while the remaining half goes directly to local counties for allocation.

The problem, according to KACo Opioid Settlement Advisor Lauren Carr, is that not every county has the staff, expertise, or infrastructure to spend that money effectively.

“All 120 counties receive opioid settlement funds, but a lot of counties are different,” Carr said. “Some have the capacity to attack this, and some don’t, so we’re trying to break down the information and make it easily digestible in ways they can understand so they can put it into action in their community.”

That’s exactly what the 20-county cohort, which includes both Graves County and Trigg County in western Kentucky, is designed to fix.

What’s Driving the Network’s Formation

The opioid crisis does not affect every community the same way. Rural counties in particular often lack the public health infrastructure to identify the most effective interventions for narcotic addiction, navigate grant compliance requirements, or build the multi-agency partnerships that recovery experts say are essential.

KACo’s cohort offers member counties a structured framework for doing all of that. Carr said the network will push participating counties toward earning Kentucky’s “Recovery Ready Community” certification.

It’s a state designation requiring counties to demonstrate they can provide prevention, treatment, and sustained support services for people dealing with opioid addiction or other substance use disorders.

Only 39 of Kentucky’s 120 counties currently hold that certification, including McCracken County, which earned it in 2024.

Peer Recovery and Community-Based Treatment

On the ground, organizations like the Turning Point Recovery Community Center in McCracken County are already demonstrating what settlement funding can accomplish.

Site Administrator Nathan Brockett said collaboration with neighboring counties played a major role in Turning Point’s ability to earn Recovery Ready certification, and that the settlement dollars have opened doors that weren’t available before.

“We utilize that funding to create our mobile access to recovery program,” Brockett said. “We’re able to literally meet people where they’re at.” Turning Point used opioid abatement funding to purchase a van for mobile outreach, allowing recovery specialists to reach individuals with opioid addiction who might never walk through a clinic door.

Brockett added that the flexible nature of opioid abatement funds has allowed Turning Point to expand programming far beyond a single intervention. “The opioid abatement funding doesn’t make us so constrained,” he said.

“They allow us to be able to do so many different things.” The organization now has more ways to connect people struggling with narcotic addiction to treatment, peer support, and ongoing recovery services.

Understanding Opioid Addiction and Overdose Risk

Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription pain medications, heroin, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. They work by binding to receptors in the brain and body, producing pain relief and, at higher doses, respiratory depression that can lead to fatal overdose.

Fentanyl, now present in much of the illicit drug supply, is up to 100 times more potent than morphine, making accidental overdose a constant risk even for people who believe they are taking a different substance.

Naloxone (brand name Narcan) is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose and is available without a prescription at most pharmacies in Kentucky. Carrying naloxone is one of the most effective harm reduction steps anyone can take.

Finding Help for Opioid Addiction in Kentucky

For anyone in Kentucky dealing with opioid addiction or narcotic addiction, recovery resources are available:

NA Meetings in Kentucky — Narcotics Anonymous holds meetings across the state, including in Paducah, Mayfield, and surrounding western Kentucky communities. Find a meeting near you at na.org or search “NA meetings near me.”

Opioid Treatment Programs Near You — Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine or methadone is available through licensed providers across Kentucky. Contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7) for opioid addiction treatment options near you.

Recovery Ready Communities — Kentucky’s certified Recovery Ready counties maintain directories of local prevention, treatment, and peer support services. Ask your county health department or visit the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission website for resources.

If you or a loved one needs support with recovery, you can search Narcotics.’com’s directory to find NA meetings in your area. Call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) to speak with a treatment advisor today.