Local opioid settlement funds, which are available and distributed to every county and many cities around Kentucky, hold great opportunity for healing and recovery. Alongside the possibilities for local communities comes great responsibility to use the funds wisely. This is especially important as these funds come as a result of the opioid epidemic which took the lives of many Kentuckians and harmed many more. 

As county leaders make decisions about how to invest, all localities should consider applying a portion of the funds to prevention work and interventions with children impacted. 

Why Prevention…the Impact on Kids

First, it is estimated that 45,500 Kentucky children were significantly impacted by the opioid epidemic due to:

  • Living with a parent with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
  • Losing a parent to an opioid overdose
  • Having a parent incarcerated long term because of OUD
  • Being removed from their home and entering foster care or living with relatives; or 
  • Facing an opioid use disorder themselves.

The traumatic effect of these impacts greatly increase the risk of young people using substances themselves. Children impacted are three times more likely to experience an alcohol or drug use disorder themselves. (See The Ripple Effect: National and State Estimates of the U.S. Opioid Epidemic’s Impact on Children.) 

Second, prevention dollars bring significant impact for each dollar spent. Investments in evidence-base prevention programs bring returns often many times higher than the cost. Estimates suggest a return on investment of $18 for every dollar spent on youth substance use prevention. Studies also show that investments in prevention are good for the economy by increasing both employment and earnings.

Take Action Today!

Though sorting out a full plan for local opioid settlement dollars might take time, investing in prevention is a sure bet. Counties can look to the many resources available, including the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families and the Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development’s list of proven programs. Investing a portion of local funds there can help make sure we stop the opioid epidemic from continuing to take a heavy toll on future generations. Let’s invest a portion now for our youth.

Want to learn more? Reach out to a member of our team: Tara Grieshop-Goodwin at tgrieshop@kyyouth.org or Hannah Edelen at hedelen@kyyouth.org for a presentation on how to advocate for a portion of these local funds to be made available for prevention.