CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ky.org
VOCAL-KY CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS TO OPIOID SETTLEMENT REPORTING PROCESSES
VOCAL-KY Has Called for Opioid Settlement Funding to Go Toward Harm Reduction and that People Impacted by the War on Drugs Have a Seat at the Decision-Making Table
VOCAL-KY Join a National Coalition Releasing a Report on How Opioid Settlement Dollars Should be Spent
LOUISVILLE, K.Y. — Today, Louisville Public Media published a new investigation detailing confusion and discrepancies in how Kentucky’s 120 counties are reporting opioid settlement spending. In response, VOCAL-KY released the following statement, attributable to Christina Folsom, a leader with VOCAL-KY:
“The confusion on how opioid settlement dollars are being spent is a huge problem. These funds need to go towards harm reduction strategies, but we can’t have that conversation without getting receipts. We need clarity for counties and transparency for Kentuckians so we know these dollars are going towards public health tools and harm reduction — not more cops and arrests.”
BACKGROUND:
VOCAL-KY members and leaders have been outspoken advocates on how opioid settlement money should be spent, calling for transparency and accountability. VOCAL-KY attended opioid abatement town halls, and applauded Louisville’s first installment of the funds being released.
As a part of the Roadmap for Louisville Metro Government, VOCAL-KY continues to call for funding for proven, life-saving harm reduction tools for all Louisvillians at risk of overdose, like low barrier Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), naloxone, and harm reduction services for the entire state of Kentucky. Leaders and members have also called for those directly-impacted by overdose and the War on Drugs to be a part of the application and decision-making process on how opioid settlement funds are spent.
VOCAL-KY also joined a list of more than 130 organizations representing advocates and experts from public health, overdose prevention, and drug policy across the nation in releasing a roadmap on how states should spend $50 billion in opioid settlement funds.
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