Madison Opioid Response and Empowerment

Drug overdose remains a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Overdoses involving prescription and illicit opioids take the lives of 128 people every day. Kentucky is among the top ten states with the highest number of opioid-related overdose deaths. In 2018, Madison County recorded the second highest mortality rate from overdoses in the state. In 2019, Madison County had the third highest rates of all Kentucky counties (trailing only behind much more populous Jefferson and Fayette counties) for fentanyl-related deaths and methamphetamine-related overdoses.  COVID-19 has fueled a rise in drug relapses and overdoses in Madison County with some 24-hour periods having as many as three overdose deaths.

RCORP – Planning Grant
In 2019, KRFDC received a one-year rural opioid response planning grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Over the course of a year, KRFDC completed a Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan to address opioid use within Madison County, reduced stigma through a Hometown Recovery media campaign, hosted the Madison County Opioid Summit, co-hosted a conference with BRAVE where the major discussion was Substance Use among the Veteran population, sponsored an expungement clinic, and developed MORE – a group of consortium members and stakeholders that coordinate and unify services strategies county-wide.

RCORP – Implementation Grant
In 2020, KRFDC received a three-year RCORP-Implementation grant (also from the Health Resources and Services Administration) to strengthen and expand efforts started during the planning grant. This grant will allow the MORE Consortium to implement a set of evidence-based interventions and promising practices that align with HRSA’s Four-Point Strategy to Combat the Opioid Crisis.

The overall goal of this project is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdoses and to work toward long-term solutions to our community’s crisis.

Through the MORE project (Madison Opioid Response and Empowerment) KRFDC hopes to:

• reduce the occurrence of OUD/SUD among new and at-risk users, as well as fatal opioid-related overdoses
• expand treatment options, including access to medication- assisted treatment (MAT)
• increase other recovery and treatment options that help people start and stay in recovery

These funds are intended to expand resource availability will not duplicate any existing efforts in Madison County.

MORE Activities will include:

• reduce stigma through a multi-media campaign
• host conferences, trainings, and recovery rallies
• provide community education and prevention events
• increase the number of peer support specialists
• develop a sustainability plan

RCORP News Release August 2020: KRFDC Awarded Federal RCORP Implementation Grant to Combat Addiction

RCORP News Release June 2019: KRFDC Awarded Federal Opioid Planning Grant

 

The MORE consortium is made up of organizations and individuals that are committed to working collectively to drive change in how Madison County responds to the opioid epidemic.

Together, consortium members share expertise; provide leadership in planning for integrated services; create linkages to statewide and local consortia to avoid duplication of efforts; address stigma; ensure target population engagement in planning; and focus on solutions rather than barriers.

MORE Consortium Members include:
Berea College Partners for Education
The Dry Dock
EKU School of Nursing
Fahe
Madison County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy
Madison County EMS
Madison County Health Department
Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Voices of Hope
White House Clinics
Individual, Mendi Goble
Individual, Tim Webb

The MORE consortium is supported by a larger network of community organizations and individuals committed to lending their expertise to address Madison County’s opioid epidemic.  If you would like to join the MORE Stakeholders group, please click this link to fill out a brief survey or contact Karen Atkins.

MORE Stakeholders include:
AppalReD Legal Aid
Baptist Health Richmond
Behavioral Health Group
Berea City Police
Berea College
Berea Community – FRYSCs
Berea Government
Berea Police Department
Berea Schools
Bluegrass Area Development District
Bluegrass Depot
Central Bank & Trust
City of Berea
City of Richmond
Community Action Council
Congressman Andy Barr’s Office
Crossroads Church
Department of Community Based Services
Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program
Eastern Kentucky University
Enrich
Ethan Health
Fahe
First Baptist Church
First Christian Church
First Step Recovery Ranch
Goodwill Industries
Groups Recover Together
HEAL Initiative
Hope’s Wings
Hospice Care Plus
Hospice – Compassionate Care Center
Intrust Healthcare
Kentucky Career Center
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Kentucky Courts
Kentucky Department of Corrections
Kentucky Department of Corrections – Division of Addiction Services
Kentucky Department of Corrections — Division of Re-entry
Kentucky Drug Court
Kentucky General Assembly
Kentucky River Foothills Development Council
Kentucky State Police
Kentucky State Senate
Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE)
KVC Kentucky
Madison Country Government
Madison County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy
Madison County Attorney’s Office
Madison County Court System
Madison County Detention Center
Madison County Drug Court
Madison County EMS
Madison County Health Department
Madison County Jailer
Madison County Libraries
Madison County Schools
Mt. Comp Care
Morning Pointe
New Opportunity for Women
New Vista
Pinnacle Treatment Centers
Private Citizens
Recovery Dentistry
Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Richmond Fire Department
Richmond Industrial Development Corporation
Richmond Police Department
Saint Joseph Berea Hospital
Salvation Army
Senator Mitch McConnell’s Office
SPARK
Sun Behavioral Health
Sustainable Berea
The Bluegrass ADD
The Dry Dock
The Ridge
University of Kentucky HEALing Communities Study
University of Kentucky Targeted Assessment Program OUD Project
Union Church
VA – HUD VASH
White House Clinics

The SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Toolkit offers strategies to health care providers, communities, and local governments for developing practices and policies to help prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Access reports for community members, prescribers, patients and families, and those recovering from opioid overdose.

Click here to download the toolkit.

Baptist Health Richmond

St. Joseph Berea 

White House Clinic

Madison County Health Department (Syringe Services Program, SUD and OUD Programs) 

Madison County Drug Court 

Madison County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP)

Madison County Substance Abuse Guide

Liberty Place Recovery Center for Women

Holly Street Apartments

The Dry Dock

Center for Behavioral Health

New Vista

FAHE

The Salvation Army

Goodwill

Appalachian Legal Defense Fund

National Addiction Policy Forum 

HRSA’s 5-point Strategy to Combat Opioid Abuse, Misuse, and Overdose

Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition

Kentucky Overdose Fatality Report

Kentucky Treatment and Recovery Resources

Madison County Schools (Too Good for Drugs Campaign)

Richmond Chamber of Commerce

Ethan Health

Casey’s Law Information

For more information contact:

Karen Atkins
Project Director
(859) 494-5079

Jeri Allison
Project Coordinator
(859) 624-2046 ext. 1410

Alisha Wilhoit
Harm Reduction Outreach Coordinator
(859) 625-0104 ext. 7

IF YOU NEED HELP
KY HELP Statewide Call Center 1-8338-KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357) or text HOPE to 96714.  Operation UNITE staffs the KY HELP Statewide Call Center, a toll-free line providing personalized, compassionate assistance and resources for Kentuckians seeking help for a substance use disorder and offering support to their families.