“We’ve got to commit to doing the hard work to save that next life, and the next one, and the next one,” said Beshear. “If anybody says ‘how many times should you bring somebody back suffering from an overdose,’ the answer is ‘every single time.’”
During the rally, Beshear recognized six new counties as “Recovery Ready” communities: Boyd, Carter, Clay, Greenup, Letcher and Owsley.
Counties designated Recovery Ready have programs in place which combat addiction and support long-term recovery. Counties can earn points toward certification by implementing evidence-based strategies in categories of prevention, treatment, and recovery support. There are now thirty-one Recovery Ready counties in the state.
The governor and his team stressed the accessibility of resources statewide, with the user-friendly website findhelpnow.org connecting people with mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, recovery housing, and naloxone distribution. Another website - secondchanceky.gov - connects Kentuckians in recovery and formerly-incarcerated Kentuckians with job opportunities.
In 2024 alone, Kentucky distributed more than 170,000 doses of Narcan, funded $29.75 million in grants through the Office of Drug Control Policy, and operated 84 syringe exchange programs serving nearly 28,000 people. Medicaid covered addiction services for over 142,000 Kentuckians, while another 35,000 accessed treatment or recovery supports through initiatives like the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort.
Peer support specialists, individuals with lived experience in recovery who complete a state training program, remain a cornerstone of Kentucky’s approach.
“There is no substitute for the impact that relativity makes when talking about combating this disease,” said Will Waldon, one of several speakers at the event who shared his story of recovery. “If I can't relate to you, I can't hear you.”
But there are still barriers. Another speaker, Reb Kreitzer, recounted difficulties as a Deaf person dealing with substance use disorder. When she went into treatment nine years ago, there was only one center in the USA catering to Deaf individuals - and it was a private facility in Minnesota.
“That program was so expensive,” signed Kreitzer. “My dad was willing to buy me a plane ticket and get me there. I’m so grateful that my family was willing to do that for me. Without that resource, I wouldn’t have been successful.”
Kreitzer said she was grateful for the initial detox program in Kentucky which provided interpreters, but that smaller counties and smaller communities can still struggle to connect Deaf patients with the peer support which makes recovery programs successful.
“It’s like we’re just left down in this cave in the dark,” explained Kreitzer. “And it takes another Deaf individual to go down there and get them.”
Now, nine years into recovery, Reb works at Eastern Kentucky University as an ASL specialist and the coordinator of their interpreter outreach team. She said some recovery programs in Kentucky do connect Deaf people in recovery to Deaf peer support specialists. Bridgehaven Mental Health Services boasts a five-person Deaf/Hard of Hearing peer team, serving Lexington, Louisville, Northern Kentucky, and Danville.
Beshear closed by recognizing peer support specialists and others in recovery.
“Thank you for being vulnerable,” said Beshear. “Thank you for being willing to show it and talk about it with other people. You never know which conversation that you have that might tell someone else that it's their time to ask for help. And if you're seeking treatment, whether it's the first time, the second time, the fifth time, or the tenth time, we are really proud of you and we are ready to help.”