The saying, “what gets measured gets changed,” has long been a cornerstone of the Kentucky KIDS COUNT project, which has reported county-level data on critical measures of child well-being for more than 35 years. As Kentucky faces an unprecedented opportunity to address the opioid epidemic through Opioid Settlement funds, we can prevent future generations from suffering the impacts. 

Kentucky Youth Advocates released new data this month on the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families on prevention, treatment, and reducing harms. 

New data measures include information on:

  • Drug-related overdose emergency room visits among children at the county level;
  • Medicaid claims for key substance use treatment options by county; and
  • Early use of tobacco and related products among youth by area development district.

Additionally, Kentucky Youth Advocates partnered with the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACO) to report information on how counties are spending the opioid settlement funds that each county in Kentucky received. Maps in the dashboard show which counties have invested in each of five core strategies: Prevention, Treatment, Recovery Support, Reducing Harm, and Training/Leadership building. 

Map: County investments of local opioid dollars in prevention (slide 15 of 17)

Sign up to receive email updates from Kentucky Youth Advocates about new data or resources here.

Kentucky kids and families have suffered from the opioid epidemic, but together we can change that trajectory for our future.

Join the webinar we’re co-hosting with KACO on Wednesday, June 4th at 11:00 AM ET to learn more about turning data into action for Kentucky communities. Register here. 

Photo by Arina Krasnikova via Pexels