Senator McConnell Announces $6 Million to Help Combat Opioid Epidemic in Rural Kentucky

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that six Kentucky substance abuse treatment programs in high-risk rural communities received $1 million each from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. This initiative was established to reduce the morbidity and mortality of substance abuse by enhancing rural residents’ access to treatment.

Senator McConnell used his position as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for the HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. The following Kentucky organizations received these competitive federal grants:

“This past year, opioid overdose deaths surged across the country, driven by the isolation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the flood of dangerous fentanyl coming across our borders. Kentucky has tragically suffered one of the worst spikes in overdose deaths in the nation. With today’s federal grant announcement, we are continuing our efforts to reverse this painful trend,” said Senator McConnell. “In the Senate, I’ve worked to mobilize federal government resources to address our substance abuse crisis head-on with targeted prevention, treatment, and enforcement programs. I look forward to continuing to work with these important Kentucky organizations and finally putting an end to the scourge of addiction.”

“UK St. Claire is extremely grateful for Senator McConnell’s support in giving us the opportunity to have a helping hand in fighting the opioid epidemic,” said Donald H. Lloyd, II, SCH President/CEO. “Substance abuse will affect everyone at some point in their life, in some way as it continues to grow into a critical issue. Through this grant, we will be able to help someone’s parent overcome their addiction and prevent someone’s child from becoming addicted. In turn, it will greatly impact our community.”

As Senate Republican Leader, Senator McConnell has delivered nearly $300 million to Kentucky to fight substance abuse, including more than $24 million through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program.