Opioid Epidemic

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman filed a lawsuit Monday against one of the nation’s largest grocery chains, claiming its pharmacies helped fuel the state's deadly opioid addiction crisis.

In a recently published commentary, UK HealthCare physicians call for standard-of-care treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) among patients who are incarcerated. The viewpoint article highlights some of the barriers to initiating medication for opioid use disorder for addicts behind bars. Dr. Greg talks with one of the authors of the opinion piece: UK’s 2022 Bell Addiction Medicine Scholar Anna-Maria South M.D.

Gov. Andy Beshear says Kentucky communities can apply for certification through a program that evaluates the services being offered to residents seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction. The governor announced the creation of the Recovery Ready Communities program last year. Since then, a certification program has been created for communities statewide.

September is National Recovery Month and we're revisiting a conversation with Asha Carroll, Director of Social Media Engagement for the media group, Shatterproof which is spearheading an effort to de-stigmatize substance use disorders in the commonwealth. The project is called UNShame Kentucky.

Stigma and discrimination against people with substance use disorders (SUD) have directly contributed to Kentucky’s addiction crisis. Now, Kentuckians who have been personally impacted by substance use disorder will take center stage in a stigma reduction campaign that launched this spring. Dr. Greg talks with Asha Carroll, Director of Social Media Engagement for the media group, Shatterproof which is spearheading the effort.

The Lexington Fire Department is receiving more than $500,000 from the federal government to assist survivors of substance abuse. The federal dollars come…

A new program using the latest technology to educate and hopefully prevent teens from using opioids and other drugs is ready to launch in Lexington. More…

The Kentucky Supreme Court has sided with Gov. Matt Bevin in his bid to rein in outside spending in the office of his rival in the 2019 governor’s race,…

A drugstore in Kentucky obtained more opioid pills on a per person basis per county than any other retail pharmacy in the country between 2006 and 2012.,…

Vice President Mike Pence announced millions in new federal funding to help combat Kentucky’s opioid crisis during an appearance in Manchester Thursday –…