As communities continue to address the opioid epidemic, counties are finding innovating and sustainable ways to use opioid settlement funds to support people with substance use disorder, especially those in the criminal justice system.
The May 2025 session of KACo’s Opioid Solutions Monthly Webinar Series featured real-world examples of counties investing in diversion and deflection programs, co-responder models for 911 calls and evidence-based treatment options, including Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
Hardin County Attorney Jenny Oldham presented on her office’s Treatment Assessment & Monitoring program, which launched in January 2024. A certified treatment coordinator uses American Society of Addiction Medicine’s criteria to assess defendants and link them with appropriate residential or outpatient care, then monitors their treatment progress. So far, 71 individuals have been assessed—most in 2024—thanks to support from opioid abatement funds.
Boyd County Jailer William Hensley shared insights into the county’s comprehensive Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. This in-jail initiative provides Sublocade, Suboxone and clinic-linked methadone treatment, as well as mental health services and peer support. Participants receive coordinated care and follow-up post-release, with specialized considerations for pregnant women and connections to reentry programs like GED, SMART Recovery, and employment services.
Additionally, Hallie V. Mattingly of the University of Kentucky’s Rapid Implementation and Technical Assistance Hub discussed the free technical assistance they provide across Kentucky, including help implementing naloxone vending machines, embedding peer support specialists in agencies, and expanding access to MOUD.
With overdose deaths still alarmingly high—1,410 in 2024, 62% involving fentanyl—these collaborative strategies are timely and essential.
KACo’s Opioid Solutions Monthly Webinar Series offers a valuable forum for sharing solutions that are helping counties save lives and rebuild communities. Each webinar features county leaders and subject-matter experts showcasing innovative and effective uses of opioid settlement funds. Topics have included youth prevention, peer support, treatment access, quick response teams, and more—offering counties a blueprint for impactful local strategies.
To register for the webinar series, click here.
Resources:
- Download the May 2025 webinar presentation here.
- View a recording of the session here.
- For more information, contact KACo’s Opioid Settlement Advisor, Lauren Carr, at lauren.carr@kaco.org.
