(FRANKFORT, Ky.) — With one month remaining before applications close, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is urging organizations across the state to apply for grants aimed at combating the ongoing drug crisis.
The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission will accept applications through December 19 for funding in three critical areas: prevention, treatment and recovery, and research and innovation.
“For years, Kentucky has been at the center of the drug crisis,” Coleman said Tuesday. “These grant awards – funded by blood money recovered from the companies behind this tragedy – will put Kentucky at the heart of the recovery.”
New Research Category Added
In a first-time initiative, the commission is offering a special grant opportunity focused on research and innovation at Coleman’s request. The program seeks novel approaches to developing therapeutic interventions for Opioid Use Disorder and overdose prevention, as well as addressing co-occurring substance use disorders.
Up to $5 million will be available for research and innovation grants, with individual award amounts depending on the total number of recipients.
“Through the work of the Opioid Abatement Commission, we have the opportunity to change the trajectory of our Commonwealth for generations,” said Commission Executive Director Chris Evans. “We’re looking for leaders who will partner with us to bring real hope.”
Track Record of Investment
Since its establishment by the General Assembly in 2021, the commission has distributed more than $85 million to 130 organizations statewide. The most recent round included over $19.8 million in awards announced by Coleman in March at a Louisville event.
The funding comes from settlement money recovered from pharmaceutical companies implicated in the opioid crisis. Kentucky has secured more than $1 billion in settlements, Coleman announced in June.
Under state law, half of the settlement funds are distributed through the commission, while the remaining portion goes directly to cities and counties based on a predetermined formula.
Organizations interested in applying can find additional information and applications on the commission’s website.
