Rural communities opioid response program-overdose response - rural kentucky continues to face a devastating opioid epidemic, with scott county and surrounding areas experiencing high rates of…

Rural communities opioid response program-overdose response - rural kentucky continues to face a devastating opioid epidemic, with scott county and surrounding areas experiencing high rates of overdose deaths, treatment barriers, and inadequate recovery support. Pinnacle treatment centers INC., through recovery works georgetown and georgetown medical, will implement the kentucky overdose quick response project to expand access to treatment, overdose prevention, and recovery services for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), their families, first responders, and those experiencing homelessness. To prevent opioid-related fatalities, pinnacle will partner with the amen house, the gathering place, first responders, and healthcare providers to distribute naloxone kits and provide overdose prevention training. These efforts will ensure high-risk individuals, caregivers, and frontline workers have the tools necessary to intervene in overdose situations. A dedicated transportation service will be established, removing one of the largest barriers to treatment access in rural communities. Individuals seeking mat, detox, and outpatient services will have reliable, stigma-free transport to recovery works georgetown and georgetown medical, with the gathering place serving as a transportation hub. Overdose survivors face a 70% likelihood of repeated overdose within one year unless they immediately engage in treatment (nida, 2023). To address this, a quick response team (QRT) will be embedded with georgetown police and scott county EMS, ensuring timely post-overdose follow-up and direct linkage to care. Peer recovery specialists and social workers will guide individuals through a structured 72-hour outreach protocol, reducing the risk of repeated overdoses. Routine screening and referral services will be implemented at recovery works georgetown and georgetown medical, ensuring that high-risk individuals are identified early and connected to mat, behavioral health counseling, housing, and employment support. Sustained recovery requires stable housing, employment, and access to ongoing support. This initiative will integrate case management, peer recovery support, and workforce development to remove barriers to long-term stability. The gathering place will provide emergency housing for overdose survivors, ensuring they are not immediately returned to unsafe environments. Pinnacle will partner with the amen house to provide food, clothing, and essential support services, ensuring that individuals in early recovery have the basic resources necessary to maintain engagement in treatment. Regular community education events, peer-led support groups, and family engagement initiatives will further strengthen social networks and reduce relapse rates. By integrating services into existing community infrastructures, this initiative will create a lasting framework for opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural kentucky.