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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.
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