According to 2021 CDC data, Kentucky has the fourth-highest drug overdose death rate in the United States at a rate of 56 per 100,000 people. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2021) estimates an average of 22.2% of Kentuckians aged 18 to 25 have used illicit drugs over the past month. The number of substance use treatment facilities in Kentucky has increased steadily over time to serve this need.

 Healthy Choices for Your Recovering Body (HCYRB) is a nutrition education program for limited resource adults in substance use recovery. It was piloted by Nutrition Education Program Assistants over nine months and the pilot concluded in August of 2022. Three hundred and eighty-three (383) adults receiving recovery services in twenty counties completed the curriculum. 

 The curriculum was developed by the HCYRB Development team, consisting of UK Extension Nutrition Education Program and Family and Consumer Sciences specialists, basing the content on research information about the unique nutrition and health needs of this audience. It includes instruction on nutrition, food preparation, food safety skills, food resource management and physical activity. 

 Evaluation results from the HCYRB Adult Questionnaire showed that after participating in the program, 98.0% of participants agreed that they understand the importance of nutrition in their recovery and 96.6% agreed that they understand the importance of physical activity in their recovery. Following the program, 95.8% intended to eat more servings of fruits and vegetables every day, 89.4% intended to choose drinks low in added sugar and 97.9% intended to drink more water.