CONTACT: Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ky.org
VOCAL-KY RELEASES UPDATED ROADMAP TO END OVERDOSE IN LOUISVILLE AHEAD OF INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY
Updated Louisville Roadmap Available Here
VOCAL-KY, alongside VOCAL-US, Joined a National Coalition in Releasing a Recommendations for Spending Opioid Settlement Funds
LOUISVILLE, K.Y. — Today, VOCAL-KY released an updated Roadmap for Louisville Metro Government to End Overdose and Reverse the Harms of the War on Drugs, alongside local partners and ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31).
Recommendations from the updated roadmap include:
Expand access to low barrier Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), naloxone, and harm reduction services
Expand access to emergency housing, government support and care for unhoused Louisvillians at high risk of overdose
Decrease incarceration and increase care in Louisville
Decrease overdose deaths and increase care for incarcerated Louisvillians
“Comprehensive support is what heals our communities and uplifts every life. We shouldn’t be criminalizing folks, that’s how people die. We should be surrounding them with compassion, connection and people-centered solutions.” — Dori Lindblad, a leader with VOCAL-KY.
BACKGROUND:
In August 2022, VOCAL-KY released a Roadmap for Louisville Metro Government to end overdose and reverse the harms of the war on drugs. However, in the two years since, not much has changed on tackling the intersecting issues of overdose, homelessness and unmet mental health needs. This updated Roadmap for Metro Government renews the call for investments into housing, services and care.
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