Whitley County Standing Together for Appalachian Resilience

Whitley County, Kentucky is one of many Appalachian communities devastated by illicit drugs. Drug overdose mortality in this county far exceeds Kentucky’s rate, the Appalachian region’s rate and is nearly double the U.S. rate (1). This project aims to reduce the impact of illicit substances on people and community. The primary activities include 1) embedding Community Health Workers in local law enforcement agencies, 2) supporting ongoing collaboration between local law enforcement agencies, the local health department, and a local federally qualified health center providing integrated behavioral health services, and 3) collecting real-time data, and 4) supporting law enforcement, first responder and jail diversion opportunities. This project expects outcomes to include a reduction in overdose deaths, a decrease in repeat law enforcement and first responder responses, and increased access to treatment. This project will benefit the people living, working, or playing in Whitley County, Kentucky.

1 NORC Opioid Community Assessment Tool. University of Chicago. Community Profile 2015-2019.