Kentucky Health News
Nine state and local agencies will receive more than $1.4 million in federal grant money to fight drug trafficking in Kentucky.
“Fighting addiction is a team effort that requires work from every single one of us,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news release announcing the awards. “Only together can we provide support for our loved ones struggling with addiction and make sure no one has to walk the path to recovery alone.”
The Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) will allow Kentucky’s law enforcement agencies, drug task forces and nonprofit organizations to purchase critical resources, provide drug prevention programming to community residents, offer counseling to crime victims, ensure officers receive specialized training and work with individuals leaving incarceration for successful reentry skills.
The JAG awardees and the amount granted are:
- Barren River Drug Task Force, $114,545
- Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, $196,307
- Harrison County Sheriff’s Office/Bluegrass Narcotics Task Force, $78,278
- Kentucky State Police, $333,595
- Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, $40,000
- Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, $137,791
- Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, $251,453
- South-Central Kentucky Drug Task Force, $114,789
- Warren County Fiscal Court Drug Task Force, $141,574
Leaders from several organizations explained how these funds will assist them in combating the sale, distribution and transportation of illegal drugs and increase the safety of their communities.
The Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force, the Barren River Drug Task Force and the South-Central Kentucky Drug Task Force have each been awarded funding to support additional positions that will better support coordination and bolster prevention efforts across Southern Kentucky.
The Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force will use its grant to support prevention efforts in Kentucky’s third-largest city and the surrounding county.
“This funding is critical to drug enforcement in Kentucky for both state and local governments,” Bowling Green-Warren Drug Task Force Director Tommy Loving said in the release. “So far this year, the Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force has seized 50 pounds of cocaine, 34 pounds of Mexican-manufactured methamphetamine, 500 doses of deadly fentanyl, 280 pounds of marijuana, 3,049 THC/marijuana vapes and 32 pounds of THC/marijuana products.”
The Barren River Drug Task Force will use its grant to improve prevention efforts in Barren and Metcalfe counties.
“Without the Byrne Jag funding, we could not fight the drug battles that we are in today,” Barren River Drug Task Force Director Ron Lafferty said in the release. “We are seizing record numbers of crystal meth, cocaine and fentanyl like we have never seen before, and it would not be possible without the Byrne JAG funding.”
The South-Central Kentucky Drug Task Force will use its grant to provide additional resources and support to those struggling with addiction in Allen and Simpson counties.
“The South-Central Kentucky Drug Task Force uses Byrne JAG funding to cover personnel and operations costs,” South-Central Kentucky Drug Task Force Director Jacky Hunt said in the release. “We rely on this funding to keep the doors open to fight drug crime and overdose deaths in our area, including Simpson and Allen counties.”
Treatment Resources
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, the KY HELP Call Center can connect you to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357).
Information about treatment programs across the commonwealth is available at FindHelpNowKy.org. Information on how to obtain the life-saving drug naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, can be found at that website as well as at FindNaloxoneNowKy.org and FindMentalHealthNowKy.org.
Visit the Kentucky State Police website to find one of KSP’s 16 posts where those suffering from addiction can be paired with a local officer who will assist with locating an appropriate treatment program. The Angel Initiative is completely voluntary, and individuals will not be arrested or charged with any violations if they agree to participate in treatment.
