About Us

Purpose

The Northeastern Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition is dedicated to combating substance use disorders in our region. Through education, treatment resources, and community partnerships, we work to reduce opioid addiction and support long-term recovery efforts across 19 counties. Our goal is to implement meaningful solutions that address the root cause of addiction while providing pathways to recovery and prevention.

History

In 2017, the Northeast Kentucky Area Health Education Center (NE KY AHEC) began offering opioid-focused training for medical providers. These programs were essential, as overdose rates in the region were higher than state, Appalachian, and national averages. Recognizing that no single organization could address this crisis alone, NE KY AHEC expanded its efforts, leading to the formation of our Coalition.

In 2018, we launched the Northeast Kentucky Opioid Crisis Response Network through a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Planning Grant. This initiative brought together five regional partners – many of whom had never collaborated before. As these organizations worked together, new connections formed, leading to additional projects and partnerships beyond the original grant’s scope.

Recognizing the growing impact of our work, we secured a Rural Community Opioid Response Program-Planning Grant in 2019, allowing us to expand our efforts. This led to the Northeast Kentucky Opioid Crisis Response Coalition, adding four new partners to our network while continuing collaboration with two existing ones. Although the Network and the Coalition were initially separate projects, their shared goals and resources made integration the natural next step. In early 2019, we officially merged efforts to form what is now the Northeast Kentucky Opioid Crisis Response Coalition.

In late 2019, the organization changed its name to better reflect the wide range of substance use challenges in the region – leading to the Northeast Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition we know today.

To date, the Coalition has been awarded seven federal grant projects, which have brought more than $5.72 million worth of funding into the service region. More importantly, this funding has enabled the Coalition to facilitate meaningful projects, gather data, and establish much-needed interventions within local communities.

Our Service Region

The Coalition’s 19-county service region includes: Bath, Boyd, Carter, Clark, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lawrence, Lewis, Magoffin, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Powell, Robertson, Rowan, and Wolfe counties.

Goal

The Coalition’s goal is to create and put into place educational, clinical, and preventive interventions that directly impact the substance use crisis within its 19-county service region.

Membership

To read more about our members, Governing Board, or Coalition staff, use the links below.