Kentucky has made real progress against the opioid addiction crisis in recent years, and a new grant out of Lexington shows what that progress looks like at the community level: a program that connects people in recovery not just to sobriety, but to careers.
For Kentuckians who have struggled with opioid addiction, the path back to stable employment has often been as hard to find as treatment itself.
BCTC Receives $427K for Recovery-to-Work
Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) in Lexington has been awarded a $427,622 grant from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (KYOAAC) to expand its Recovery-to-Work program.
The program fully funds workforce training for participants and creates opportunities for those in recovery to earn billable peer support specialist credentials, allowing them to bill Medicaid for peer support services from eligible agencies.
In plain terms: this grant pays for job training and creates a direct income pathway for people in recovery, letting them build careers as peer support specialists while helping others navigate the same system they once struggled to access.
Dr. Greg Feeney, president and CEO of BCTC, described the program as one that removes financial barriers and connects recovery to meaningful career pathways, empowering people to rebuild their lives while also strengthening Kentucky’s broader workforce.
Where the Funding Comes From
The KYOAAC is the body responsible for administering Kentucky’s share of national opioid settlement funds, money recovered through lawsuits filed against pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors that contributed to the opioid epidemic.
Through those settlements, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office has secured approximately $900 million, split evenly between local governments and the state, with the Commission administering the Commonwealth’s portion.
Grants like the one awarded to BCTC represent a direct reinvestment of those funds into recovery infrastructure.
Opioid Addiction in Kentucky Is Still a Major Challenge
Even as Kentucky celebrates real progress, the scale of the opioid addiction crisis in the state puts this kind of investment in sharp context.
Overdose deaths in Kentucky have now fallen for four consecutive years, dropping to 1,178 deaths in 2025, down nearly 23% from the year before and the lowest figure in recent memory.
In 2024, 1,410 Kentuckians died of a drug overdose, with fentanyl present in 62.3% of those deaths and methamphetamine present in 50.8%. Both substances remain the primary drivers of fatal overdoses in the state.
More than 17,390 Kentuckians received addiction treatment paid for by the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort in 2024, and more than 17,980 received recovery support services including housing assistance, employment services, and transportation.
The BCTC grant adds to that ecosystem by addressing one of the most persistent gaps in recovery: sustainable employment.
Understanding Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction, or opioid use disorder, is a chronic medical condition that develops when repeated use of opioids, including prescription painkillers, heroin, or synthetic opioids like fentanyl, changes the way the brain processes reward and pain signals.
Common signs of opioid addiction include using more of a substance than intended, difficulty cutting back despite wanting to, continued use even when it causes problems at work or home, and physical withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, nausea, muscle aches, and intense cravings when not using.
In Kentucky, fentanyl and methamphetamine are now the most common substances involved in overdose deaths, and many people struggle with both simultaneously.
Effective addiction treatment options include medication-assisted treatment (MAT) using buprenorphine or methadone, residential rehab programs, outpatient counseling and peer support, the very service that BCTC’s program trains recovering Kentuckians to provide.
Finding Addiction Treatment Centers in Kentucky
If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction, Kentucky has expanded its treatment infrastructure significantly in recent years, including programs funded through opioid settlement dollars, state Medicaid coverage, and free resources for uninsured residents.
The state’s FindHelpNowKy.org website connects residents to treatment programs statewide. Naloxone to reverse overdoses is available through FindNaloxoneNowKy.gov.
And for those ready to talk to someone today, Addictions.com lists verified rehab treatment centers across Kentucky, from Lexington and Louisville to eastern Kentucky communities hit hardest by the opioid crisis. Call
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