FRANKFORT, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — Four new counties have been certified as Recovery Ready Communities after a report showed deaths from drug overdoses in Kentucky fell by almost 10 percent.
Gov. Andy Beshear declared on Thursday that Breathitt, Jessamine, Lee, and Nelson counties have been certified as Recovery Ready Communities, where over 122,000 Kentuckians are receiving addiction recovery support. These communities have established addiction recovery services in the form of “mental health treatment, addiction treatment, employment services, and a stigma-free environment to reach recovery,” according to a news release.
Beshear calls for more work to be done as overdose deaths in Kentucky decline: ‘Too many lives lost’ According to the Recovery Ready Communities website , when a county becomes certified as a Recovery Ready Community, it allows feedback from addiction recovery patients “in a framework that is designed to maximize positive public health outcomes among Kentuckians” who undergo treatment for substance abuse disorders (SUD).
“We will never stop working to address addiction in every community across Kentucky, because each life is precious, and Kentuckians deserve the chance to live without the pain of losing a loved one to an overdose,” said Gov. Beshear during the announcement. “We have seen drug overdose deaths decline in the commonwealth over the past two years, and now thanks to the work of those in Breathitt, Jessamine, Lee, and Nelson counties, we will be helping more families overcome addiction.”
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Parm Darnall, chair of the Recovery Ready Communities Advisory Council, said the number of counties certified for the program doubled in 2024, with the year “only half over.” Darnall implored surrounding counties to apply for certification “so more lives are saved and overdose deaths continue to decline.”
In the announcement, officials from each of the four newly certified counties said they are excited to begin the hard work necessary to ensure that the people of central and eastern Kentucky have access to the care and prevention programs they need.
The Beshear administration also announced the biggest decrease in relapses into criminal behavior in a decade, owing to the creation of secondchanceky.gov , a website created in 2024 to assist Kentuckians who have struggled with addiction and criminal records to find jobs, education, and addiction recovery across Kentucky. The website also “connects business leaders with resources to help them hire second-chance talent,” per Beshear administration officials.
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Team Kentucky said anyone in need of treatment can call 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357) or click here for information about treatment programs across the state.
Kentuckians seeking recovery housing can join the 24,000 people who have used Find Recovery Housing Now to find recovery housing across the state.
The Kentucky State Police also hosts the Angel Initiative , a program where people recovering from addiction can be paired with a trooper who will help them find a reliable treatment program.
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