Increasing access to naloxone and educating individuals to appropriately respond to opioid overdoses were primary goals of HCS. Naloxone is available over the counter at pharmacies and may be available at no cost. Click the link above to learn more today. 

Are you or someone you know looking for treatment for OUD? Medications to treat OUD is a medical standard of care, and these medications can save lives.

Removing expired or unused medications from the home helps get your family and your community safe. More than half of misused prescription pain relievers are obtained from a friend or relative.

This tool offers a tailored list of strategies to reduce opioid overdose deaths, aligned with your community's needs and resources. It also provides practical guidance and real-world examples for implementation.

The study aimed to reduce opioid overdose deaths. The funding was awarded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

Download the UK-HCS factsheet to read more about the grant, the communities, the goals, and partners across the Commonwealth. You can read about the HEAL initiative on the National Institutes of Health HEALing Communities Study webpage.

A coalition of stakeholders who live and/or work in the participating counties drove the local decision-making and implementation process.

Over the course of the study, HCS-KY hosted 125+ interactive teleconferences and 25 peer-based learning sessions, distributed more than 90,000 units of naloxone, partnered with more than 130 agencies to expand access to medications for OUD, installed nearly 60 drug disposal receptacles, and launched 8 communications campaigns across the 16 HCS-KY communities. Click the link above to download the HCS Infographic to learn more.

Looking for tailored materials and resources specific to your HCS county? Explore our dedicated HCS Counties page, where you’ll find resource guides and information designed for your community. 

Equity of overdose education and naloxone distribution provided in the KY HCS, Published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 2024

Changing Trends in Drug Overdose Mortality in KY: An Examination of Race and Ethnicity, Age, and Contributing Drugs, 2016-2020, Published in Public Health Reports, 2023

These resources are designed for many different audiences looking to take actionable steps to address OUD in their community.

OUD is treatable, and medications for OUD saves lives. Learn more about this chronic disease, and how these medications work.