Issue Position: Opioids: Healing Families and Communities

Issue Position

More Treatment Beds in More Places
Treatment for substance abuse disorders should not be a luxury. There is a shameful lack of beds in Kentucky to treat the scourge of addiction, and those we do have are often inaccessible to the communities that need them most. While there are costs with expanding treatment to those who are suffering, the bad actors who pushed opioids on our community should be the ones to foot the bill.

As Governor, Adam Edelen will work to ensure that both general revenue funds and funds recovered from the out-of-state pharmaceutical companies who created this problem go toward community-based addiction treatment and are protected from being used on politicians' pet projects.

Expanded Drug Court
Offering a path toward recovery from and reconciliation with the mistakes of the past for low-level and first-time drug offenders not only saves Kentucky taxpayers; it also saves lives. Additionally, we can prevent thousands of our people from entering the criminal justice pipeline. Expanded drug court will help keep Kentucky families intact, as one of their loved ones receives the tools and skills they need to defeat the disease of addition.

Source