Drug overdose persists as the leading cause of accidental death to Kentuckians in 2020.  During the 12-month span beginning in March 2020 and coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US suffered 88,000 overdose deaths.  During this, the worst year on record, Kentuckians witnessed an opioid epidemic in the midst of a public health pandemic and the consequences have been dire.

In August of 2020, I was invited to the BRIGHT Eastern Kentucky Leadership Academy by my friend and colleague, Karen Butcher.  The Academy brings together emerging leaders from across Eastern Kentucky to identify solutions to problems that affect local communities.  The focus of this summit was to identify ways to mitigate the impact of the opioid epidemic in Eastern Kentucky.  I delivered a presentation entitled "Building Recovery Ready Communities" which focused on helping community leaders identify key resources (e.g. recovery capital) to mobilize recovery and remove barriers to reentry.  The presentation was well-received by numerous community leaders, including state legislators.

Three months later, in March of 2021, Governor Andy Beshear signed into legislation House Bill 7 which establishes an Advisory Council for Recovery Ready Communities.  The legislation was first introduced and co-sponsored by Rep. Adam Bowling, an attendee at the BRIGHT Eastern Kentucky Leadership Academy.  

Effectively translating science into practice and aiding in the creation of legislation that improves the health and wellness of Kentuckians strikes at the very mission of CES programming and I'm grateful to have played a part.