In this edition of Bloom Kentucky’s Growing Hope series, where we’re spotlighting opioid abatement efforts across the Commonwealth, we are shedding light on the great work happening with the Graves County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy and Prevention (ASAP). 

Their comprehensive action plan serves as the north star that guides their work – from the exchange program, the distribution or narcan boxes, their recovery backpacks, youth engagement with the Mayfield-Graves County ASAP Youth Council, and more. 

Graves County ASAP Action Plan Goals

Graves County ASAP has a comprehensive action plan that will help fight the opioid epidemic by the following goals. 

  • Goal 1: Increase community collaboration, education, and awareness around substance use prevention, substance use disorders, mental health, harm reduction and recovery resources
  • Goal 2:  Reduce substance use among teens and adults through evidence-based prevention strategies.
  • Goal 3: Raise awareness about the mental health continuum, reduce stigma associated with mental illness, promote help seeking behaviors and emotional well-being practices, and prevent suicide through individual education and outreach events, empower young people to prevent substance use in their communities
  • Goal 4: Develop youth leadership skills and empower young people to prevent substance use in their communities
  • Goal 5: Reduce the number of overdose deaths by a harm reduction approach and providing resources to those who suffer from substance use disorder.

The Exchange Program 

The Exchange, a Harm Reduction Syringe Exchange Program, is a program designed to:

  • Decrease the spread of disease with the exchange of contaminated needles for sterile needles
  • Promote health through education of rotating injection sites and wound care, on-site counseling or referrals to counseling and treatment services, and
  • Reduce the dangers of contaminated needles in the community environment.

Lauren Carr, Executive Director, shares that, “the goal is to meet individuals where they are. Harm reduction is the safety net in case someone has a slip up – the goal is to catch them…The exchange also helps reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder…stigma and shame is not going to bring anyone out of addiction…We are working to provide people a lifeline of hope and that’s exactly what the Exchange program does.”

The Exchange Program also offers peer-support services – anytime any individual has questions about treatment or about navigating life through recovery, there are support services. The program helps provide resources to meet the unmet needs of individuals.

Narcan Distribution Boxes

Graves County ASAP has 9 narcan distribution boxes. The locations include:

  • Graves County Sheriff’s Office – 1002 Paris Rd. 
  • Mayfield Police Department – Open 24 hours – Available in lobby area
  • Fire Station #2 – Off West Broadway
  • First Station #3 – Located on South 10th Street
  • The Fuller Center – 1571 KY-303
  • Graves County Health Department –  416 Central Avenue
  • Graces County Public Library – 601. N 17th St.
  • Boondocks Vape Shop – 1408 Cuba Rd. 
  • Mayfield Graves Co. YMCA – 1545 Cuba Road 

Each bag has recovery resources, a community-resource guide, a QR code to a training video, and narcan. The goal is to destigmatize narcan. Carr shared that “A common misconception is that overdose is only occurring with those that are actively using drugs when fentanyl has been found in almost anything…”

Graves County was a pilot program for the community Narcan distribution boxes. Since March of 2023, over 930+ kits in the boxes have been distributed. 

Recovery Backpacks

Another effort that is part of the action place is the creation of recovery backpacks for those who are being released from jail. The recovery backpacks include community resources, hygiene products, narcan, recovery resources, information about the exchange program, and other things that individuals may not have access to exiting jail and reintegrating back into the community. 

Carr shared that “we are trying to meet those unmet needs, provide individuals resources, and work collaboratively to make the most out of the opioid abatement funds… At the end of the day, we are trying to meet people where they are at…we try to love people back to life so that they can see another day.”

Mayfield-Graves County ASAP Youth Council

The Graves County Agency for Substance Abuse Youth Council is a group for high school students in the Graves County-Mayfield Area who are passionate about making a difference in the community. The goal of the youth council is to empower teens to live above the influence by educating, advocating, preventing substance use, and promoting positive mental health. The council meets monthly to discuss activities and participate in community outreach. Some of the activities include annual retreats, “Friday Night Done Right” – an after football game opportunity for youth to hang out, “You are Loved” campaign that takes place in February each year, bowling nights, along with other activities and awareness campaigns.

Courtney Jeffries, Program Coordinator, shared in response to why she is involved with leading the youth council by sharing, “Having someone who loved and invested time into me ignited fire in me – that is why I do what I do.”

Isabella (Bella) Cornett, who is the Event Chair for the Youth Council and current KYA Health Youth Ambassador shared, “I wanted to be in the Youth Council because of what I’ve seen with my family… I want to be able to help them, my friends, and I want to be part of the change…With me being a junior in high school, I can be an influencer and teach my peers what not to do, and positive alternatives to substance use.”

Graves County ASAP Opioid Abatement Mini-Grants

As a collaborative effort with other community groups, Graves County ASAP is currently offering mini-grants, pursuant to KRS 15.291(5). Organizations can receive funds that align with the opioid abatement goals and Graves County ASAP action plan. Organizations for a one-time event can apply up to $500. Organizations that will be implementing opioid prevention, treatment, harm reduction programming can apply up to $1,500. 

Growing Hope

It’s incredible what can be done when you bring together passionate and committed individuals who are determined to make a difference. Graves County ASAP is living up to their mission of “freeing [their] community from substance use” and they are doing that through intentional efforts and by meeting people where they are.

This is just one of many examples across the Commonwealth of growing hope through opioid abatement work.

Update from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Commission

The Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission released a notice of funding related to the application which opens January 1, 2024. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2024. 

  • Applications will be submitted online using the Intelligrants system (IGX) starting Jan. 1.
  • Funds must be used to provide prevention, treatment, and/or recovery support services for individuals who have one of the following: 
    • Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) 
    • Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and comorbid polysubstance use
    • Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and co-occurring mental illness
    • Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and comorbid polysubstance use and co-occurring mental illness

See more details on the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Commission site.