During a National Recovery Month event at the state Capitol on Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Daviess County has been certified as a Recovery Ready Community. The initiative ensures that residents in Recovery Ready counties have access to services for drug and alcohol addiction in three key areas: prevention, treatment, and recovery support.
Beshear also announced that Calloway, Fayette, and Pulaski have received the designation, bringing the total number of certified counties to 18 since the program began in May 2022.
“We have now guaranteed that addiction services are available to a third of our state’s population,” Beshear said. “We won’t stop working until every life and family is saved from addiction, so we continue to encourage the remaining counties to identify gaps in services and to work with our administration to achieve certification. I am proud of the tens of thousands of Kentuckians who are in recovery, and we pray for their continued healing and growth.”
The announcement follows a recent report from the governor that Kentucky experienced a 9.8% decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2023, marking the second consecutive year of decline in the state.
Pam Darnall, chair of the Recovery Ready Communities Advisory Council, praised the progress being made.
“Every day that we can certify another county as Recovery Ready means more and more Kentuckians can achieve recovery with access to peer support services, mental health treatment, addiction treatment, employment services, and a stigma-free environment,” Darnall said. “I commend Calloway, Daviess, Fayette, and Pulaski counties for joining in the state’s fight to reduce overdoses, eliminate addiction, and save Kentucky families.”
A release from the governor’s office said Daviess County’s certification reflects its commitment to addressing substance use disorder through a wide range of services and partnerships. The county’s harm reduction programs include syringe support services and strong intergovernmental and interagency cooperation that has led to local policy and funding for addiction intervention. Local treatment providers collaborate to avoid wait lists, ensuring that Kentuckians ready for recovery receive help without delay.
Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen emphasized the significance of the certification.
“This designation highlights our commitment to the fight against substance use disorder. Through great collaboration, agencies in the public and private sector are providing resources aimed at prevention, treatment, and recovery support,” Castlen said. “It’s going to be huge to say that we are a certified Recovery Ready community as we apply for state and federal grant funds.”
The county also offers multiple emergency shelters with various treatment components and recovery housing for both men and women. The local jail operates a model re-entry and work release program supported by the Kentucky Career Center, River Valley Behavioral Health, and Owensboro Community and Technical College.
Castlen acknowledged the role of the Alliance for a Drug-Free Owensboro & Daviess County in securing the certification.
“I want to applaud the Alliance for a Drug-Free Owensboro & Daviess County for overseeing this extensive application process and developing a strategic plan to address substance use in our community,” Castlen said. “This is but one more example of how we in Daviess County attempt to assist each of those we recognize as our neighbors.”
