According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2020, Kentucky has a higher rate of tobacco use, prescriptions drug misuse, and substance abuse disorder.  Substance use disorder can have long term effects on the body such as; liver disease, cirrhosis, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and poor wound healing.

Breckinridge County Nutrition Education Assistant partnered alongside Breckinridge County Substance Abuse Program to assist the Substance Abuse participants in Healthy Choices for Everybody Curriculum. This all male participant group met with the Assistant every other week for 6 months to encourage positive behavior changes in eating habits through adopting strategies from My Plate, being physically active, and food resource management . 94% of the class showed an increase in making a positive change in choosing one of the five food groups, particularly with fruit and vegetables. 82% of the class chose to exercise for a least 30 minutes a day and 50% made a conscience decision to be more active. 81% of the men showed an increase of cooking when returning home, 88% of the men plan to make a meal plan for the week, and 75% will make a shopping list, 94% say yes to looking for foods on sale at the store. The participants also had food demonstrations done during class to ensure cooking could be do able, cost effective, and nutritional and taste good.