Bell, LaRue, Marion and Washington counties are certified as Recovery Ready Communities, totaling 25

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Four more Kentucky counties have been certified as Recovery Ready Communities, signaling that they have the services needed to help their residents recover from addiction. That brings the total to 25 counties out of 120.

These certifications came just two weeks after it was announced that Kentucky saw a 30.2% decrease in overdose deaths in 2024, compared to the year before.

“Kentucky has made great progress in reducing addiction and overdose deaths, and to continue this momentum, we must ensure every community has access to critical resources,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news release. “I am grateful to these four counties for doing the hard work needed to provide employment, treatment, housing and health care to those in their communities who are in addiction recovery or have been released from incarceration. They are making their communities safer and ending generational cycles of crime and addiction.”

Beshear said these certifications will allow the nearly 71,000 Kentuckians living in these communities to access second-chance employment, safe sober living housing, health care and treatment. The counties are recognized for having established services for residents who are seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction in three different categories – prevention, treatment and recovery support.

“Every county certified is one step closer to certifying the entire commonwealth,” Pam Darnall, chair of the Recovery Ready Communities Advisory Council, said in the release.

Bell County was recognized for its strong community coalitions, such as UNITE Bell County, its robust network of quality treatment providers, its school prevention program and its comprehensive harm reduction outreach program.

“We are proud to be recognized as a Recovery Ready Community,” Pam Sulfridge, vice chairperson of UNITE Bell County Coalition, said in the release. “This certification reflects the hard work and dedication of our community members, organizations and leaders who are committed to making a difference in the lives of those affected by substance use disorders.”

LaRue County was recognized for its partnership with the Kentucky Chamber to host fair chance employment events and its work to ensure recovery housing in neighboring Hardin County. The release also recognized the county’s comprehensive harm reduction outreach program and its longest-running police social worker program outside of Northern Kentucky.

“I’m proud of LaRue County and all its partners that have established our community roadmap to recovery,” LaRue County Judge-Executive Blake Durrett said in the release. “We know the success we want for our citizens, and we are ready to get them the help they need for recovery.”

Marion and Washington counties submitted a joint application for certification. The counties were recognized for several initiatives, including being the home to two of the largest addiction treatment providers, reopening a career center and using opioid settlement money to hire a community support specialist at the center, among other things.

“When people are provided with the tools to heal and the opportunity to work, families are strengthened, and our entire community thrives. This certification represents both a significant milestone and the beginning of ongoing progress and hope,” Marion County Judge-Executive David Daugherty said in the release.

To learn more about the program and to apply for certification as a Recovery Ready Community, click here.

Paths to treatment

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, connect to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357). Information about treatment programs all across the commonwealth is available at FindHelpNowKy.org.

Information on how to obtain the life-saving drug naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, can be found on that website as well as at FindNaloxoneNowKy.org .

Visit the State Police website to find a post where those suffering from addiction can be paired with a local officer who will assist with locating an appropriate treatment program through KSP’s Angel Initiative.

To find recovery housing, go to FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org.