WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today several Kentucky addiction treatment programs in high-risk rural communities received $6 million in competitive federal grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Senator McConnell contacted HRSA in support of his constituents’ grant applications and their life-saving missions. 

The HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program was established to reduce the morbidity and mortality of substance abuse by enhancing rural residents’ ability to access treatment. 

Senator McConnell helped the following organizations secure these competitive federal grants: 

“In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Kentucky remains focused on treating those suffering from substance abuse. I was proud to help these programs receive vital federal funding to serve rural communities around our Commonwealth,” said Senator McConnell. “Since I became Senate Majority Leader, I’ve worked to mobilize the federal government to respond to the scourge of addiction with prevention, treatment and enforcement efforts. Kentucky is leading the fight against addiction, and it’s a privilege to join these devoted professionals to help us win.” 

According to these programs, they will use the federal funds for a range of recovery activities, including medication assisted treatment (MAT), transitional housing, and workforce readiness programs. 

"Through the First Day Forward initiative, many of our most vulnerable rural residents will have access to the treatment and recovery services they so desperately need,” said Donald H. Lloyd, II, St. Claire HealthCare President/CEO. “We are tremendously grateful for Sen. McConnell’s commitment and his support of the fight against the opioid epidemic in Northeastern Kentucky.” 

“Kentucky River Foothills Development Council, Inc. is excited to learn that its request for a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Implementation grant has been selected for funding. This three year project will enable the MORE (Madison Opioid Response and Empowerment) Consortium to strengthen substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services in Madison County,” said Kentucky River Foothills Development Council Executive Director/ CEO Brian Mullins. “These additional services are greatly needed to intervene in the opioid epidemic that has broken the hearts of many families in our community with the worst cases ending in the overdose deaths of more than 40 Madison Countians annually for the last several years. Kentucky River Foothills Development Council and the MORE Consortium are grateful for Senator McConnell’s ongoing support of our grant application of which he has championed throughout its development.” 

“Lake Cumberland Community Action Agency and our partners would like to sincerely thank Majority Leader McConnell for his support of our grant application. The $1 million award will be utilized over the next three years to increase this area’s capacity to provide meaningful prevention, treatment, and recovery resources. Majority Leader McConnell's commitment to our fight against opioids is greatly appreciated,” said Lake Cumberland Community Action Agency Executive Director Alicia K. Polston. “Together, we represent 30 community partners and private individuals determined to see a positive change in our rural communities and to provide a strong foundation for long-term solutions to the opioid crisis.” 

Three other Kentucky organizations were also awarded a $1 million competitive federal grant: Purchase District Health Department (Paducah), Northeast Kentucky Regional Health Information Organization (West Liberty) and Baptist Health Foundation Corbin (Corbin). 

In June, Senator McConnell announced he helped St. Claire Medical Center secure a $900,000 competitive federal grant from HRSA to provide MAT services in collaboration with the Northeast Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition. 

Recognizing the link between the coronavirus pandemic and the increase in substance abuse, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Senator McConnell introduced and led to passage, also delivered $6 million for Kentucky’s treatment efforts. 

Since becoming Majority Leader in 2015, Senator McConnell has prioritized the fight against the opioid and substance abuse epidemic by increasing federal funding for the response. Under his leadership, Kentucky has received more than $240 million. In 2019, Senator McConnell worked with the University of Kentucky to help secure an $87 million competitive federal grant—the largest in school history—to address the opioid crisis in high-risk communities. 

He has also helped secure the inclusion of some of Kentucky’s hardest-hit counties in the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program to promote coordination and support for law enforcement in Kentucky. Last month, Senator McConnell announced he helped secure HIDTA designations for three additional Kentucky counties: Simpson, Logan and Clark. Only 15 counties nationwide received a HIDTA designation this year. 

Senator McConnell consistently draws attention to Kentucky’s prevention, treatment and enforcement efforts with the President’s Cabinet and federal agencies. Multiple Drug Czars, the federal official responsible for coordinating the national response, have visited Kentucky at his request to see the innovative work being done in the Commonwealth. Most recently, Director James Carroll visited Boyd, Simpson, Logan and Clark counties in July. 

In 2018, President Trump signed into law the landmark opioid and substance abuse bill Senator McConnell helped shepherd to enactment. The measure included the Senator’s CAREER Act, which recognizes that steady employment and safe housing are critical to long-term recovery. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) introduced the House companion legislation. The President also signed into law the Senator’s Protecting Moms and Infants Act, which authorized an increase in federal funding to help babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). 

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