Opioid Settlement Funds Fuel Expansion of Owsley County's Hub Services

Opioid settlement dollars flowing to Owsley County are fueling a meaningful expansion of The Hub, the Kentucky River District Health Department's community-based recovery and prevention program, which now reaches residents through a dedicated van that officials say has significantly expanded access to care in a region where transportation is often the greatest barrier.

The Hub originated in Lee County in 2022 and has since grown into a regional model across the Kentucky River District. Lee, Owsley, Letcher, and Knott counties have each directed their shares of opioid abatement funding toward expanding the program, with every county applying those resources in distinct ways. The Kentucky River District Health Department runs The Hub across all four sites and is actively working with additional counties in the district to bring the model further.

In Owsley County specifically, The Hub offers a broad continuum of services: comprehensive risk reduction, peer support, recovery coaching, case management, linkage to treatment and medication-assisted treatment, transportation assistance, barrier relief, hygiene and basic needs support, and recovery meetings. The program also helps those in recovery train for in-demand career fields, adding a workforce development dimension to its recovery-focused mission.

Beyond direct services, Owsley County is investing settlement funds in prevention by developing a youth-led coalition focused on leadership development and early intervention, extending The Hub's reach to residents before a crisis takes hold.

The Kentucky Association of Counties highlighted Owsley County's approach in a feature published March 20, 2026, describing it as positioning Owsley County as a model for rural response and recovery.

The funding behind these efforts comes from national opioid litigation settlements totaling approximately one billion dollars secured from manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies. Kentucky splits that money evenly: half flows through the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, and half goes directly to local governments. Under state law, specifically KRS 15.291(5) and the accompanying Exhibit E settlement guidelines, those dollars must be used for recovery, treatment, or harm reduction purposes. Allowable uses include naloxone distribution, medication for opioid use disorder, services for pregnant women and parents, treatment for incarcerated populations, syringe service programs, warm hand-off programs, and school- and youth-based prevention efforts. Owsley County is among the counties with an open certification application for direct payment of abatement funds.

The response from local leadership across the district has been described as overwhelmingly positive, with strong interest in using the funds to address stabilization gaps for individuals in active addiction and build community-centered recovery access points. "This growing regional support reflects both the demonstrated impact of The Hub model and the shared commitment across our district to compassionate, accountable and sustainable solutions," according to the Kentucky Association of Counties feature.

Residents seeking to connect with The Hub's services in Owsley County can reach out directly to the Kentucky River District Health Department for information on locations and availability.