Sen. McConnell secures funding to fight opioid addiction in Kentucky

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell announced the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will distribute $706,113 in federal funding to Kentucky through the State Opioid Response (SOR) Grant Program.

Officials said the funding will be used to expand the Recovery Housing Program, which was created by McConnell through the “Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act” in 2018.

McConnell said the Recovery Housing Program is a transitional housing pilot program to help states increase access to safe transitional housing for individuals in addiction recovery while they rehabilitate and reenter the workforce. The funding will be used to develop and expand the recovering housing program to assist young adults with their recovery and their reentry into the workforce.

According to McConnell, in February, he introduced the CAREER Act of 2025 to enhance the workforce reentry and recovery housing programs created in the 2018 law.

McConnell said since becoming law, the “CAREER Act” has directed nearly $12.5 million to Kentucky, helping hundreds of Kentuckians recovering from substance use disorder.

“Kentucky’s workforce continues to feel the effects of the opioid epidemic that plagues our nation. I’m proud to have championed the CAREER Act in the Senate, which helps combat this crisis by providing funding for resources helping those in recovery get back into the workforce,” said McConnell. “This announcement is yet another step in the right direction, giving our communities much-needed assistance in transitional housing and continuing to help our youth get their lives back on track.”

McConnell said the federal funding will be allocated to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which the state then distributes to programs across the Commonwealth that help prevent, reduce, and treat opioid abuse.