Kentucky distributes $34M in opioid settlement grants to combat drug crisis

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky's Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission awarded more than $30 million in grants to over 100 organizations Friday to support drug prevention and recovery efforts, according to LEX 18 News. The grants, distributed at Woodhill Community Center in Lexington, come from settlements with pharmaceutical companies involved in the nation's opioid crisis.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said the state has now distributed over $100 million since the grant program began, positioning Kentucky as a leader among states in deploying settlement funds to rebuild communities and families affected by addiction. "Over $100 million has been awarded to tackle the drug crisis in this commonwealth. This is money that's being deployed now," Coleman said.

Two local organizations received substantial funding. The Lexington Leadership Foundation was awarded $231,526 to continue its Fatherhood Initiative, which works to reunite children with fathers struggling with addiction or incarceration in Fayette and Jessamine counties. The foundation also received $222,654 to expand its Youth Empowerment Program, which provides mentoring, tutoring, sports and theater programming to youth across Fayette, Jessamine, and Scott counties.

Marcus Patrick, youth empowerment director for the foundation, noted the growing accessibility of drugs to young people. "Right now the amount of access that our young people have — even at schools — to vapes and drugs and gummies is unprecedented," Patrick said.

David Cozart with the Commonwealth Center for Fathers and Families emphasized how the funding supports family stability. "These resources are going to help us equip fathers to be the best fathers they can be, to be the best fathers of their children and the best husbands they can be — and by extension they're going to want to stay healthy to be that good dad," Cozart said.

Coleman acknowledged the source of the funding, calling the settlement money "blood money" given the lives lost to drugs in Kentucky. However, he emphasized using the resources responsibly. "I'm deeply grateful we have the opportunity to turn the pain of the drug crisis into progress," Coleman said. "We owe it to every family affected to use these resources responsibility."