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OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR








*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*




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*Scottie Ellis
502-401-6933*
"[email protected]" <[email protected]>






Gov. Beshear: Four More Kentucky Counties Certified as Recovery Ready Communities, Further Protecting Lives in Fight Against Addiction

"Addition expands addiction resources to nearly 219,000 more Kentuckians"

*FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 20, 2025)* – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear took additional action to protect Kentuckians from addiction by certifying Estill, Henderson, Lewis and Warren counties as Recovery Ready Communities. By designating these counties as Recovery Ready, Team Kentucky is expanding access to assistance for drug and alcohol addiction for an additional 219,000 Kentuckians.

“Too many of our families know the pain of losing a loved one to addiction, and every life lost is a child of God that we mourn,” *Gov. Beshear* said. “By certifying four more counites as Recovery Ready Communities, including the commonwealth’s third-largest city, we are ensuring that every Kentuckian can get the addiction treatment and recovery resources they deserve to live a full, healthy life.”

The certifications build on the progress made in 2025 to reduce addiction in every corner of the commonwealth. That progress includes:


* Overdose deaths in Kentucky decreasing [ [link removed] ] for the third year in a row, with a 30.2% drop in 2024 compared to the previous year.
* 35 counties being designated as Recovery Ready Communities [ [link removed] ], providing 1.9 million Kentuckians with access to addiction treatment and recovery support while removing barriers to the workforce.
* Gov. Beshear taking action in November to prevent the sale and distribution of a dangerous substance in Kentucky by moving to classify 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) [ [link removed] ] as a Schedule I narcotic. This will make it illegal to sell, possess or distribute any isolated or concentrated forms of 7-OH in the state.
* As of the end of Oct., the Kentucky State Police has seized nearly $9 million worth of drugs, including over 5,500 grams of fentanyl, nearly 32,000 grams of cocaine and more than 102,000 grams of methamphetamine.
* The Kentucky State Police completing a successful Operation Summer Heat 2.0 [ [link removed]:*2F*2Fky.canto.com*2Fb*2FQPM8K/1/01000197faa6f68d-3891420d-f362-4b3b-82ef-17ba3d1fe50f-000000/8fbyl4qU6OIbxQsyNrTq-8A5gBNPf5ESATzwXr2zx-A=413__;JSUlJQ!!Db6frn15oIvDD3UI!gRYFRbtSBLHqOnoj7G4JKqes-_pso1KaMiu5faVDSb5ck-tLCA2GhZllGxucM_T2_vy65ZtgMbwDk4LcM2mVHAFmKoH3Hd786UVDShU%24 ], targeting suspected drug networks operating in the commonwealth and leading to 197 arrests. The operation came following Gov. Beshear’s announcement this summer that a New Kentucky Home is being created with fewer illegal drugs on the streets harming our families.
* The Commonwealth of Kentucky releasing [ [link removed] ] the 2024 Crime in Kentucky Report in July, which showed serious crime rates have decreased by nearly 8%, including an 11.55% decrease in drug/narcotic offenses, a 12.7% decrease in homicide offenses and a 13.78% decrease in sex offenses.
* In Aug., Gov. Beshear announced [ [link removed] ] the emergency designation of bromazolam as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, banning the drug from being sold in Kentucky and providing law enforcement with the ability to make arrests for sales or possession. The action comes after bromazolam, widely known as “designer Xanax,” has been tied to a growing number of fatal overdoses in the commonwealth and across the nation. It was detected in 48 overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2024.
* Kentucky securing another year with a low recidivism rate - in February, Gov. Beshear announced [ [link removed] ] that nearly 70% of people released from state custody over the past two years have not been re-incarcerated.
* Gov. Beshear awarding more than $1.4 million in federal grant funding in Sept. to nine state and local agencies [ [link removed] ] to fight drug trafficking through the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.

*New Recovery Ready Communities*
The Estill County Overdose Task Force supports addiction treatment and services to the county’s 14,000 residents. The Estill County Health Department also operates the Under the Bridge harm reduction and mobile outreach program, which is a model for the delivery of these services to marginalized populations. Mercy Health’s Marcum and Wallace Hospital in Irvine and Kentucky River Foothills also work to provide in-person services while reducing the stigma surrounding addiction.

“We are very excited to receive the Recovery Ready Community certification for Estill County,” *Elizabeth Walling, public health director for the Estill County Health Department*, said. “Our community partners are actively working together to ensure that anyone dealing with substance use disorder has access to local resources and the support they need to achieve sobriety.”

Henderson County is home to an active ASAP Board that has historically invested in interventions for over 44,000 residents of the county. The county is also home to The Port, a youth drop-in center serving individuals aged 16-25 offering mental health support and addiction treatment. The Recovery Resource Club of Henderson hosts the Stop The Overdose Project, an innovative collaboration between city and county governments led by the Women’s Addiction Recovery Manor designed to reduce community stigma and drug overdoses while increasing harm reduction capacity.

“Through the hard work over many years of the Women’s Addiction Recovery Manor, its leadership and especially founder Dale Sights, Henderson County has truly become a place of healing and hope for those who struggle with addiction,” *Henderson County Judge/Executive Brad Schneider* said. “This certification acknowledges those heroic efforts and reminds us all of the thousands of lives saved through expert intervention, treatment and successful transition back into society. On behalf of Henderson County Fiscal Court, I offer heartfelt congratulations for everyone who had a hand in earning our community this tremendous honor.”

Lewis County received its certification thanks to dedicated county leadership who created a model partnership between Fresh Start Health, Lewis County Fiscal Court, Lewis County Health Department and Lewis County Emergency Management to expand access to addiction treatment and enhance community prevention efforts. The county’s nearly 13,000 residents also benefit from a strong and active local ASAP Board and one of the newest chapters of Operation UNITE.

“This certification reflects who we are as a community, people who care about one another and step up when our neighbors need help,” *Lewis County Judge/Executive George Sparks* said. “I want to thank Tammy Brown and all of our partners for leading this effort and ensuring Lewis County has the resources in place to support recovery. Today is a proud day for our county, and I’m honored that the Commonwealth has recognized our commitment.”

Warren County’s almost 148,000 residents benefit from a county-level Office of Drug Control Policy that serves the Barren River Area Development District and an active ASAP Board that funds interventions in the county. LifeSkills, Inc., also partners with stakeholders across the county, like the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Salvation Army, to operate a Quick Response Team to provide resources to the homeless and those fighting addiction. Warren County residents also have access to the Anchor Project, a three-part regional addiction project that provides various levels of addiction treatment.

“I am incredibly proud of our Warren County team and the many community partners who worked tirelessly to achieve this Recovery Ready Communities certification,” *Warren County Judge/Executive Doug Gorman* said. “This milestone reflects our shared commitment to supporting recovery, reducing stigma, and building a healthier, more resilient community for all who call Warren County home.”

*Treatment Resources*
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, the KY HELP Call Center can connect you to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP [ tel:8338594357 ] (833-859-4357). 

Information about treatment programs all across the commonwealth is available at FindHelpNowKy.org [ [link removed]:*2F*2Ffindhelpnow.org*2Fky/1/01000191fbbcfb61-36e3b649-1d15-4564-b8a7-d8f6124b4065-000000/7ZHJVbR7gGwDb_2BVTkijiPwyCM=391__;JSUl!!Db6frn15oIvDD3UI!gjDgbknkCOJrEjF22RxLOxrZcuk4LJQTYjrtInh7Ur1bUFLDCNctmZYbfzGqIWhVDiYeywa6luH3IV9zZE-Oh_bXW2Crx_HMebVo6kbZ%24 ]. Information on how to obtain the life-saving drug naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, can be found at that website as well as FindNaloxoneNowKy.org [ [link removed] ] and FindMentalHealthNowKy.org [ [link removed] ].

Visit the Kentucky State Police website [ [link removed] ] to find one of KSP’s 16 posts where those suffering from addiction can be paired with a local officer who will assist with locating an appropriate treatment program. The Angen Initiative is completely voluntary, and individuals will not be arrested or charged with any violations if they agree to participate in treatment.

The state’s Treatment Access Program [ [link removed] ] also allows those without health insurance to enter residential treatment, and the Recovery Ready certification [ [link removed] ] helps communities support residents who are seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction. The Beshear-Coleman administration created a website to help people in recovery find housing, FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org [ [link removed] ], and a website to support Kentuckians seeking second chances find a job, get an education or continue recovery, SecondChance.ky.gov [ [link removed] ]. The site also connects business leaders with resources to help them hire second-chance talent.

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