Throughout Kentucky, families and communities have felt the impact of the opioid epidemic. For too many families, the impacts have hit very close to home and loved ones have been lost. While we can’t take away those losses that families have experienced, Kentucky has a tremendous opportunity in the wake of the crisis to heal with communities stronger than they were before.

Managed by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, the opioid settlement means that our state and every Kentucky county has resources to invest in stopping the opioid epidemic. (Check out the Bloom Kentucky resource here to learn more about those funds.)  While many resources are rightfully focused on treatment and harm reduction for those struggling with addiction, another crucial area of focus must be on preventing children and youth from becoming the next generation of people impacted by opioids.

Kentucky Youth Advocates is launching the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families, with the first round of data and resources now available.

The goals of the dashboard are straightforward:

  • Put information in the hands of community members in order to inform decision-making about best practices for utilizing opioid funds, and
  • Prevent another generation from experiencing addiction.

Many proven programs exist to address the challenges children and families face, and the dashboard provides data on factors related to opioid use, in addition to solutions that communities can implement.

The Opioid Data Dashboard provides data at the county level, where available, and also at the regional level for Area Development Districts and Department for Community Based Services regions.

These data indicators provide context and opportunities around various levels of prevention – from preventing the risk factors that give substance use a foothold to preventing the negative fallout on children when a parent struggles. Examples of the data available include drug incidents at schools and regional data on children removed from their parents’ care with drug and/or alcohol use as a factor.

We invite community leaders to explore areas of strength and areas of challenge for their county and district. This information can guide where more investments are needed to build resilience among children, strengthen families, or offer support to prevent early substance use. The dashboard provides examples of work underway in communities across the state and a list of evidence-based programs that align with how opioid settlement funds are to be used (see Kentucky statute here).

With a concerted effort to address current needs, and also looking upstream to prevent substance use before it starts, Kentucky will emerge more resilient.

Want to receive updates from Kentucky Youth Advocates about the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families? Sign up for email updates HERE.