$3.5 million in grants allocated across state to treat heroin and prescription drug addiction and neonatal abstinence syndrome

As part of the heroin legislation passed this year, community mental health centers and residential treatment facilities across the state will receive more than $3.5 million in grants to help treat prescription drug and heroin abuse, and address neonatal abstinence syndrome in Kentucky, according to a state press release.

“Substance abuse continues to be one of the most stubborn, damaging public health and safety issues facing our Commonwealth,” Gov. Steve Beshear said in the release. “This grant funding will help us reach more people and get them the treatment they need to overcome their addiction.”

This funding is part of a larger allocation of funds attached to Senate Bill 192 and will go to centers that provide behavioral and medication assisted therapy services for people in treatment for addiction, and to residential treatment services for pregnant women battling substance abuse.

In Fiscal Year 2015, which ended June 30, community mental health centers served 15,709 individuals with substance use disorders, or about 5 percent of the population in Kentucky estimated to have a substance use disorder, Beshear said.

The community mental health centers receiving funding are: Pathways, Ashland, $320,000; Communicare, Elizabethtown, $320,000; North Key, Northern Kentucky, $320,000; River Valley, Owensboro, $193,000; Bluegrass, Lexington area, $308,300; Kentucky River, Jackson area, $320,000; Pennyroyal, Hopkinsville area, $292,200; Seven Counties, Louisville area, $247,400; and Mountain Comp Care, Prestonsburg area, $244,000.

Four additional programs providing residential treatment for pregnant women also will receive grant awards. They include: Transitions Inc., Northern Kentucky, $219,600; Mountain Comprehensive Care, Prestonsburg, $250,000; Chrysalis House, Lexington, $250,000; and Volunteers of America, Louisville, $249,300.

“The goal of the program is to serve adults diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder or a co-occurring mental illness with a substance abuse diagnosis,” the release said. “Awardees must demonstrate a commitment to ensuring individuals have access to evidence-based services and supports that include outpatient, medication-assisted, individuals, group, family, intensive outpatient, crisis, case management, residential treatment and recovery support services.”