Recent News
21 students awarded ‘I Am UNITE’ scholarships
Twenty-one high school seniors in the Class of 2022 have been selected to receive “I Am UNITE” scholarships totaling $31,500 for being champions for anti-drug efforts in their schools and communities.“These scholarships honor youth – whom we call UNITE Ambassadors –...
Dr. Al Mooney to headline Appalachian Gathering
Parts of Appalachia have been called the epicenter of the American drug problem. In 2018, drug overdose mortality rates in Appalachia were 48% higher than the national average. The COVID-19 pandemic brought an increased mortality from substance use disorders for...
Federal funding secured to combat skyrocketing overdose rates
Congress has passed a comprehensive bipartisan federal funding package for the remainder of 2022 that contains critical funding for programs across the country. The legislation includes programs that Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-05) advocated for to save lives and...
Rx Summit 2022 returns in-person for the first time since 2019
As part of ongoing efforts to address the opioid and addiction crises – a national issue that impacts every community in every state - the 11th annual Rx Summit will be held in person April 18-21 in Atlanta.The Rx Summit is a global community of stakeholders who come...
Cadets learn connection between basketball and life
FORT KNOX – Cadets from the Kentucky National Guard’s Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy spent several hours learning the basics of dribbling, passing and shooting basketballs from former University of Kentucky point guard Jarrod Polson during Operation UNITE’s Shoot Hoops...
Sports balls donated for children of Eastern Kentucky
Dr. Carl Backer, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon at UK Children’s Hospital, presents one of a hundred sports balls to UNITE Youth Programs manager Carl Varney. Also representing UNITE were, from left, Executive Assistant Lynnell Fields, Region 3 Coalition...
Gov. Beshear joins bipartisan group of state, community leaders to recognize Overdose Awareness Day
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 31, 2021) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear joined a bipartisan group of state and community leaders to recognize Overdose Awareness Day in Kentucky.Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on Aug. 31 each year to raise awareness of drug overdoses,...
KY HELP Statewide Call Center adds evening, weekend hours
With a feeling of desperation and anxiety at not having been able to find help for her daughter, Karen conducted an Internet search and found a listing for the KY HELP Statewide Call Center.Within hours of calling the toll-free number (1-8338-KY-HELP), the Screening...
Death toll from overdoses rose 49% in 2020
FRANKFORT, Ky. (August 3, 2021) – Today, the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) announced that the 2020 Overdose Fatality Report indicates more than 1,964 Kentuckians died from drug overdoses in 2020, a 49% increase in...