FRANKFORT – September is National Recovery Month for people struggling with substance abuse, so hundreds of people gathered at the Kentucky State Capitol to walk for awareness.   State officials, those in recovery, and recovery advocates – such as Operation UNITE – were part of more than 300 people who took part in the “Walk for Recovery” on Monday, September 16.   Starting at the end of Capitol Avenue, the march to the...

Updated 9-16-19 – A free Provider Education Summit will be offered by Operation UNITE and the Kentucky River Rural Health Opioid Program (RHOP) on Thursday, September 26, on the campus of Hazard Community and Technical College. Entitled “Providing Hope to Our Communities,” this Summit will offer CEU/CMEs to physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselors, and licensed clinical...

A delegation from the Philippines stopped by Operation UNITE’s office on August 23, 2019, to learn about collaborative prevention programs and initiatives, local coalition building, and the treatment efforts. The visit was part of a week-long professional exchange program under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. They were accompanied by a representative with the World Affairs Council in...

Citizens Attacking Addiction (CAA), a community coalition serving the Louisville metro area, has plans to model UNITE’s Treatment Voucher program. Known as LIFT (Louisville Initiative For Treatment), the program – funded by private-sector donations – would provide financial assistance for individuals to obtain long-term residential treatment for substance use disorders. CAA hopes to have LIFT up and running by the first quarter of 2020. Members of...

Operation UNITE’s 13th annual Camp UNITE is being held July 23-26 at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg. Nearly 200 youth from 29 southern and eastern Kentucky counties were registered to attend. More than 150 volunteers will assist UNITE staff in providing programming during the four-day, three-night Camp. Staff and volunteers arrived on campus Monday, July 22, for registration, orientation, and to begin setting up the activities. Click here...

UPDATED 6-21-19 – Five free, regional Operation UNITE Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball skills camps for youth throughout southern and eastern Kentucky will be conducted between June 11 and June 20. Former University of Kentucky point guard and four-time All-SEC Academic Team member Jarrod Polson – who was part of the 2011-12 National Championship squad – will conduct these three-hour camps. All school-age youth are invited to participate in the camps, to...

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 13, 2019 — Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced the formation of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council (SAAC), a 24-member volunteer advisory group of leaders from law enforcement, recovery services, health, economic development, private industry, education, state government and other sectors. Nancy Hale, President/CEO of Operation UNITE, will serve as a SAAC member. The SAAC will develop recommendations for ARC to...