logo
Kentucky to award grants worth $5 million for opioid research, innovation

Kentucky to award grants worth $5 million for opioid research, innovation

Yahoo5 hours ago

Attorney General Russell Coleman speaks on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, during the Graves County Republican Breakfast. (Austin Anthony for the Kentucky Lantern)
The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission will award $5 million in grant money for research projects and 'innovative approaches to developing and implementing effective novel therapeutic interventions' for opioid use disorder and treating substance use disorder.
Applications for the $5 million will open July 1 and will close Dec. 20, Attorney General Russell Coleman's office announced Monday. Winners will be decided next March or April.
Eligible applicants are nonprofit and for-profit entities that have good standing with the Secretary of State and government entities.
'So much good work is being done to transform lives in our Commonwealth thanks to more than $85 million in opioid abatement funds already distributed,' Chris Evans, the executive director of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, said in a statement. 'This $5 million is meant to push us further in our ability to innovate and come up with new solutions to battle this epidemic.'
Overdose deaths have been on the decline for the last three years. Still, 1,410 Kentuckians died from an overdose in 2024.
'For too long, Kentucky was at the epicenter of the drug crisis. Now, by funding cutting-edge innovation, we also have the chance to be at the heart of the recovery,' Coleman said. 'We're looking to leaders in prevention, treatment and recovery to bring their best research ideas that can drive the solution, and, in turn, help save lives.'
The commission's job is to distribute the state's more than $800 million in opioid settlement funds.
So far, it has allocated more than $85 million to 130 organizations, according to its website.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kentucky to award grants worth $5 million for opioid research, innovation
Kentucky to award grants worth $5 million for opioid research, innovation

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Kentucky to award grants worth $5 million for opioid research, innovation

Attorney General Russell Coleman speaks on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, during the Graves County Republican Breakfast. (Austin Anthony for the Kentucky Lantern) The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission will award $5 million in grant money for research projects and 'innovative approaches to developing and implementing effective novel therapeutic interventions' for opioid use disorder and treating substance use disorder. Applications for the $5 million will open July 1 and will close Dec. 20, Attorney General Russell Coleman's office announced Monday. Winners will be decided next March or April. Eligible applicants are nonprofit and for-profit entities that have good standing with the Secretary of State and government entities. 'So much good work is being done to transform lives in our Commonwealth thanks to more than $85 million in opioid abatement funds already distributed,' Chris Evans, the executive director of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, said in a statement. 'This $5 million is meant to push us further in our ability to innovate and come up with new solutions to battle this epidemic.' Overdose deaths have been on the decline for the last three years. Still, 1,410 Kentuckians died from an overdose in 2024. 'For too long, Kentucky was at the epicenter of the drug crisis. Now, by funding cutting-edge innovation, we also have the chance to be at the heart of the recovery,' Coleman said. 'We're looking to leaders in prevention, treatment and recovery to bring their best research ideas that can drive the solution, and, in turn, help save lives.' The commission's job is to distribute the state's more than $800 million in opioid settlement funds. So far, it has allocated more than $85 million to 130 organizations, according to its website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Kentucky health officials urge vaccines after infant deaths
Kentucky health officials urge vaccines after infant deaths

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

Kentucky health officials urge vaccines after infant deaths

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Health officials are urging Kentuckians to remain up to date on immunizations after two infants died from whooping cough. On Friday, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said two infants have died from pertussis, whooping cough, in Kentucky in the last six months. Owensboro's blue bridge to close for up to 3 months Kentucky gas tax to see reduction next month Kentucky health officials urge vaccines after infant deaths The cabinet said both infants and their mothers were not immunized against whooping cough. These were the first pertussis-related deaths in Kentucky since 2018. 'Anyone can get whooping cough, but infants are at greatest risk for life-threatening illness,' Kentucky Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said. 'Fortunately, when vaccinations are administered to pregnant women, it provides protection to both the mother and the baby.' In July 2024, officials announced that whooping cough cases had begun increasing in Kentucky to levels not seen in over a decade. There were 543 cases of whooping cough reported in Kentucky in 2024, the highest number of cases in the commonwealth since 2012. Read more of the latest health and wellness news The cabinet said 247 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Kentucky this year, with officials anticipating cases increasing during the summer and fall, based on historic trends. FOX 56 chief medical contributor, Dr. Ryan Stanton, said whooping cough cases often show up in clusters throughout the year. Many U.S. states and other countries are also experiencing elevated levels of whooping cough. According to the Centers of Disease Control, early symptoms are usually mild, like a cold, and can include a runny nose, a low fever, and a mild cough. The CDC said those symptoms usually progress into many rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched 'whooping,' vomiting, and general exhaustion. The coughing can continue for up to 10 weeks or more. Babies may experience pauses in breathing rather than the signature whooping cough. What are the best places to work in Kentucky? Stargazing in Kentucky? Here are 5 parks you can visit for the best view UK Hospital still No. 1 in Ky., earns numerous recognitions in multiple specialties: Report The health department is asking parents to be sure school-age children have up-to-date vaccines. 'The vaccine's immunity tends to decrease over time, making the booster important for older children and adults, so talk to your provider to find out if you need a new dose!' the health department said. Anyone exposed to pertussis should get tested, officials said. Stanton said that whooping cough is high-risk for newborns and the elderly, but most cases are found in upper-middle and lower-high-school-age children. That's why he said up-to-date Tdap vaccinations are key. Read more of the latest trending news 'The tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis, this is the one you get when you cut yourself,' he said. 'But unfortunately, you know, we get them pretty regularly as children as we grow. But once we're an adult, we're not as prone to accidents. We don't cut ourselves quite as much. So, many people haven't had that up to date.' The pertussis immunization is given in combination with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines (DTaP and Tdap) and is required for Kentucky school children. Data from the 2045-2025 Kentucky school immunization survey shows that only 86% of kindergarteners and 85% of seventh graders are up to date on their required pertussis immunizations. With every pregnancy, to protect babies Infants at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months old Children, before starting kindergarten Teens between 11 to 12 years old Teens and adults every 10 years or sooner if an injury occurs Health care providers said early detection, with proper testing, is critical to prevent further spread. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Kentucky's bourbon business is vital to our economy. Don't let DC dry it up.
Kentucky's bourbon business is vital to our economy. Don't let DC dry it up.

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Yahoo

Kentucky's bourbon business is vital to our economy. Don't let DC dry it up.

Kentuckians, like all Americans, should be deeply concerned about the troubling developments that have been unfolding behind closed doors in Washington, D.C. Anti-alcohol activists are attempting to seize control of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans on alcohol, potentially inflicting significant harm on our state's economy and our way of life. The Kentucky beverage retail industry is a vital part of our state's economy, with direct retail alcohol sales supporting more than 17,000 jobs and contributing $1.4 billion in economic activity. Many of these businesses are small, family-run operations with tight margins, whose livelihoods are directly threatened by this opaque and potentially damaging process. These activists are pushing for radical changes, advocating that no level of alcohol consumption is safe and pushing for a limit of a mere one drink per week or less. This extreme position flies in the face of established scientific consensus. Opinion: Mid City Mall development can help rebuild our shrinking Highlands community Disturbingly, the process has been tainted by questionable practices. During the Biden administration, anti-alcohol activists appear to have gained undue influence, creating a separate panel not authorized by Congress that disregarded the scientific consensus. They selectively interpreted studies to align with their predetermined ideological agenda. Thankfully, our own Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has been a tireless advocate for transparency and sound science in this process. He has been dogged in his investigation into the development of these alcohol consumption guidelines, exposing this opaque approach where unelected bureaucrats, many with foreign affiliations, are crafting policy behind closed doors. Rep. Comer's recent letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of Health and Human Services, and Brooke Rollins, the secretary of agriculture, highlights the critical flaws in this process. He rightly pointed out how 'these overlapping evaluations went outside of the congressionally mandated review processes and issued conflicting guidance to the American public.' Rep. Comer's commitment to ensuring the dietary guidelines for alcohol are based on 'rigorous, sound, and objective scientific evidence, efficiently steward taxpayer dollars, and adhere to congressional intent' is commendable. Gerth: Trump's big budget bill sparks debate with Massie. Can't they both lose? | Opinion Rep. Brett Guthrie is also to be commended for his leadership on this issue. Rep. Guthrie has been a strong voice for Kentuckians and has worked diligently to ensure that the dietary guidelines are based on sound science and not on ideological agendas. Secretaries Kennedy and Rollins have the power to halt this concerning process and restore integrity to the development of these crucial guidelines. We urge them to act swiftly and decisively. Until they do, it is imperative that our entire Kentucky delegation, including our senators and representatives, continue to shine a light on this issue and demand transparency. They must make it clear that bias, conflicts of interest and cherry-picked science have no place in the dietary guidelines that impact millions of Americans. Tell us what you think. Submit a letter to the editor. Brian Edwards is the co-owner of Cellar Door Wine & Spirits and Thoroughbred Spirits in Murray, Kentucky. This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KY, demand alcohol guidelines based on science, not bias | Opinion

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store