Owsley County Anti-Drug Council Connects Residents to Prevention Resources

Owsley County maintains an active Anti-Drug Council that schedules regular meetings and serves as the county’s local hub for prevention work and regional support. The council typically meets at 4:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of every other month at the Owsley County Action Team, 66 Old Highway 11 in Booneville, next door to the library. The group provides mailing and contact pathways and a local prevention coordinator to help residents and community partners navigate prevention programming, grant opportunities, and technical assistance.

The council operates within the broader Operation UNITE network of community coalitions, giving the county a direct line to regional prevention resources and funding support. That connection matters in a rural county where public health infrastructure and access to services are limited. By coordinating schedules, sharing information, and serving as a point of contact, the council helps channel outside resources into local projects that address substance misuse, outreach, and education.

For Owsley families and service providers, the council’s work affects how prevention efforts are planned and delivered. Local organizers use coalition meetings to align school outreach, community education, and partnership strategies. In a place where transportation, broadband access, and health care capacity can be barriers, a coordinated local coalition helps ensure that limited resources are targeted to the people and places with the greatest need.

The prevention coordinator role is a practical pivot for equity-focused work. That position links residents to program supports and to opportunities for technical assistance and grants that can fund youth prevention programs, training for first responders, or community-based outreach. For small counties, grant navigation and administrative support often determine whether good ideas become sustainable programs.

Sustaining prevention efforts in Owsley also raises questions about long-term funding, workforce capacity, and stigma. Community-led coalitions can reduce barriers by centering local voices and by working with regional partners to adapt resources to local realities. Ongoing meetings at the Action Team building give residents a steadier table for those conversations.

For readers, the council represents both a resource and an entry point. Residents seeking information, partners interested in prevention work, or organizations looking for collaboration can connect through the Owsley County Action Team at 66 Old Highway 11 in Booneville. Continued engagement will shape which prevention projects win funding and how services reach the county’s most vulnerable people.