Substance abuse, particularly the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs along with heroin and fentanyl, remains one of the most critical public health and safety issues facing Kentucky. For years, the annual number of Kentuckians who died from drug overdoses steadily climbed to a peak of more than 1,400 in 2017, exacting a disastrous toll on families, communities, social services and economic growth. Drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation is essential to Kentucky. The SAP (Substance Abuse Program) at the Bullitt County Detention Center is one of the resources in Bullitt County working towards this goal. Partnering with the SAP program, Bullitt County Extension has been offering a biweekly Gardening Skills program in an effort to supplement their current programming. The program offers classes on a wide variety of horticultural topics.  The Gardening Skills program presents participants research based information and techniques that could assist them in finding related employment upon release from the program. It also provides them with a skill that they can use as a family bonding activity, physical fitness, to grow healthy food at home, and to offer them a healthy alternative therapeutic outlet.

Twice in the last few weeks has the true impact of this program been made evident.  In the first instance an inmate in a detention center in Webster County wrote saying that he had heard that we “work closely with the inmates in your county on plants and other information” and requested publications and advice on innovating production on their family farm and improving agricultural techniques to help diversify their family business.  The second instance involved an inmate that had previously graduated the program reached out to communicate what the program meant to him and the impact it had on his remaining free and sober.  These are evidence of the long term impact that the local program is having.