Local efforts increase to curb surge in overdose deaths among Black Kentuckians
While overdose deaths in the Commonwealth have declined, deaths among Black Kentuckians have increased by 5%, according to data from the latest Kentucky Overdose Fatality Report.
Organizations across the state are working to stem overdose deaths among residents of color. In Bowling Green, the nonprofit HOTEL INC. is focused on harm reduction.
Rebecca Troxell, HOTEL INC. lead navigator, explains the group’s street teams go into homeless encampments and provide Narcan, fentanyl strips, hygiene packets and medical care.
“We have volunteer doctors, EMTs and nurses who go out with us, so we’re able to provide medical care on site. We’re able to provide educational components with that, as well, helping people understand what harm reduction really is,” she said.
She added a recent SHIFT grant from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky will allow the street teams to reach more people. The program, which awards funding up to $50,000, aims to reduce disparities and other inequities worsened by the drug crisis.
In Lexington, the nonprofit agricultural organization Black Soil KY is adding Narcan boxes and educational materials to its farmers markets. They are also working to improve access to fresh food among Kentuckians in recovery.
Ashley Smith, co-founder and CEO of Black Soil, said farmers will also receive harm-reduction training: “We know having that unbarriered access to local goods, like seasonal produce, local meat within your recovery housing, just really provides an advantage for the overall outcome.”
Kayla Migneron, director of the Louisville-based maternal health program Granny’s Birth Initiative, said the SHIFT grant funding will help expand stigma-reduction training for doulas.
“Our main goal is that any person would be comfortable coming to get assistance from us, whether it’s accessing resources using our stuff, even just asking for connections to other programming,” explained Migneron.
Nationwide, overdose deaths among mostly younger Black women nearly tripled between 2015 and 2021.
get more stories like this via email
Public News Service is an independent, member-supported news organization providing "news in the public interest" through a network of independent state newswires. Our journalists report on a broad spectrum of public interest topics with the goal of promoting an informed citizenry to support vibrant, equitable, and participatory communities – ultimately leading to a healthier democracy.
