McConnell secures federal funding to fight opioid addiction in Kentucky

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell has announced the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will distribute $706,113 in federal funding to the Commonwealth of Kentucky through the State Opioid Response Grant Program.

According to a release Wednesday, the funding will be used to grow the Recovery Housing Program, which was made by McConnell’s Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry Act in 2018.

The program is a transitional pilot program to help states increase access to safe transitional housing for those in addiction recovery while they rehabilitate and reenter the workforce.

The funding will be used to develop and expand the housing program to help young adults with their recovery, officials say.

“Kentucky’s workforce continues to feel the effects of the opioid epidemic that plagues our nation. I’m proud to have championed the CAREER Act in the Senate which helps combat this crisis by providing funding for resources helping those in recovery get back into the workforce,” said Senator McConnell. “This announcement is yet another step in the right direction giving our communities much needed assistance in transitional housing and continuing to help our youth get their lives back on track.”

The federal funding will be allocated to the Commonwealth, which the state then distributes to programs in Kentucky that help prevent, reduce and treat opioid abuse.