>> I think the biggest difference are seeing a little towns and big cities and suburbs all across Kentucky is a willingness part of people to accept people who are recovery.

To invest in them.

Where we then that's where we're going as Kentuckyian the nation's fight.

The drug crisis.

>> It's just saving lives.

Saving water city soil.

One prescription at a time.

>> We'll show you some of the unique technology coming out of the 2025 Rx Summit.

>> And for the United States Senate.

♪ >> Kentucky's longtime congressman is ready to change the chamber's.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Wednesday.

April, the TWENTY-THIRD, I'm Renee Shaw and we thank you so much for joining us.

Once again.

We're at the G****** Opryland Resort and Convention Center and Nashville, Tennessee, for the annual prescription and illicit Drug Summit.

The nation's largest meeting of professionals affected by drug abuse and committed to fighting it in 1984, it's not just a number or data point.

It's lives of Kentuckians lost to a fatal drug overdose in 2023. nationwide.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the CDC, there's one overdose nearly every 5 seconds.

The highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded.

It's because of trends like that that the annual prescription and illicit drug Summit or Rx and drug saw that it was created 14 years ago.

A few 1000 are gathering here in Nashville to learn from each other about ways law enforcement policy makers treatment providers and those in active recovery can combat addiction and then Ingram who has Kentucky's Office of Drug Control Policy spoke with Kentucky additions.

More Rogers yesterday about the progress being made and what lies ahead.

>> Mister Ingram, we sure appreciate you taking the time to sit down with us here at wrexham it.

Let's do it.

And let's talk about addiction numbers saying Kentucky, based on what we know, what those numbers look like in, are you hopeful that they are improving?

I feel like they are approving of a study in 2019.

>> Identify the freshly 160,000, Kentuckyian with opioid use disorder.

It did not count stimulant use disorder that not cold.

Cannabis for alcohol.

I just hope to use disorder over 160,000 people.

>> That's certainly a large number.

When we talk about that many Kentuckians that are battling let's talk about fentanyl.

What is its impact when we look at fatal?

>> Or near fatal overdoses is as fentanyl largely to blame for those.

>> And over 70% of all overdose deaths include fentanyl.

The toxicology report.

And usually that's the driver of that overdose of fentanyl.

So it continues to be a problem.

I will be surprised if there's not some new synthetic opioid out.

In 2 years.

I think that the possibility is good that.

Cartels will develop another.

It should take opioids sites but will in the future.

>> It's almost a never ending battle.

Always a new Hilda overcome recovery efforts.

What are those looking like in Kentucky right now?

Are there certain approaches that you're finding to be?

>> Well, I'm really proud of recovery efforts in Kentucky.

We started the program a few years ago, a bill sponsored by Robert for the bowling side by Governor Beshear and all that.

Certified recovery ready community.

So we've partnered with Volunteers of America Mid-State to go into a community and say these are the things you need to have to be recovery ready.

And help them.

Development program's put those things in place and then be certified to fly.

These are storm ready for work.

Ready?

Weve got 21 communities now in Kentucky that a recovery ready in another 4 that will prove in the coming really excited about that program.

We continue to work with an up with good will go to Kentucky Chamber and others.

To put on exposed.

But theres 2.

Lake employee.

We have we have what we call a fair Chance Academy where we bring employers in and teach them how to be a fair chance employer, how to take someone with a criminal record for someone who's had addiction issues.

It showed that they could.

We should we can show them that this could be a ploy.

What you can de defy with will really work hard for you because they're so grateful to be away from that picture.

>> You've been at the helm of these efforts for a long time now.

And your law enforcement background and so way, are we seeing maybe the last 5 to 10 years are using anything new?

And now we're tackling addiction.

And Howard treating recovery.

You know, I think >> the statement continues to reduce.

It's good.

I think Steve was a lot better now than it was.

A dozen years ago.

It certainly Wheeler come to understand that medications to treat opioid use disorder.

It could be very effective.

Give us the best opportunity to KET someone alive.

I think the biggest difference are seeing a little towns and big cities and suburbs all across Kentucky is just willing this the part of people to accept people who are recovery.

To invest in them.

And what I think is gonna make a difference.

>> Van Ingram, executive director of the Kentucky Office for Drug Control Policy.

We appreciate your time so much here at Wrexham it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

♪ ♪ >> Every attendee at this year's It received a unique item in their tote bag, a drug destruction pouch.

That neutralizes almost any drug you put in it, including powerful drugs like oxycodone and fentanyl.

As you just heard about and the kids is fake has more on how this drug disposal method for events, pollution.

And potential drug abuse.

>> There's lots of interesting technology on display at the 2025 prescription and illicit drug summit, including products that use chemical digestion as a method of safe drug disposal.

Barak's destroyer is one of the pioneering companies in this field and their drug disposal formula is used everywhere from hospitals to coroner's offices to the bathroom medicine cabinet.

>> The journey kind of started in 2010, our CEO and founder, I was on a regional version in the Midwest of like a Shark tank and there was a nurse would last a young man to an overdose kind of dumpster diving chasing kind of been destroyed or not fully new tries to medications and unfortunately, a man lost his life and she thought there had to be a better way.

>> Proper drug disposal in the home is more important than ever.

According to the United States National Survey on drug use and Health, an estimated 2.2 million adolescence suffered from a drug use disorder in 2023, a drug disposal pouch isn't easy.

Ready to use way to dispose of unused medications.

>> So as you see, this is just our forums pouch, very, very simple to use based on like a 200 milligram Advil sized tablet.

This'll roughly do about 80 pills.

So what you do is if you just bought the product or was given to be brought into the home, he would just unscrew the cap.

You take your medication, you put it directly inside and you were just replace the calf.

The process is going to start immediately.

It's neutralizing whatever medications you put inside of that.

So you got to breaks it down like arsenic, the activated carbon in here ads are upset, not absorb like when you ring something up with a towel and Sarksyan is like a chemical one-way transfer since running that route run during that drug, not Retrievable.

>> Rx Destroyer.

Also partners with government agencies and nonprofits providing disposal containers up to 55 gallons in size.

So whether it's the 4 ounce pouch or industrial sized barrel, the liquid formula can handle some seriously dangerous substances, including fentanyl.

And it's not a one and done disposal method.

You can continue to feel the pouch until its full then just throw it away when those medications are either leftover left behind, that can pose a threat to our community from getting into our water and our soil since a much bigger picture than just >> at home or just at the hospital.

One of the greatest benefits of this as you can continue to use it for up to a year or until fall.

So if we had medicine or home today and we put 5 pills and that we could come back around Christmas time and still add medication to this.

The benefit is you have a tool that you can use for up to a year and eliminate that medication from the home preventing risk of someone taking at preventing it from going into the toilet or down the drain and ultimately ending up back in our bodies through consumption or in a landfill.

And during our our soil.

>> From our extra strong year to just add water disposal bags to revolutionary harm reduction in crisis KET, the it is connecting those fighting our country's drug crisis with tools they can use to make a difference for Kentucky edition.

I'm McKenzie Spring.

>> Harm Reduction is just one approach to tackling the drug crisis.

As you heard McCain to talk about, and the drug prices includes more than just opioids, fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The state's top cop made this issue a key cornerstone of his campaign 2 years ago and his professional credentials as a former FBI agent and U.S. attorney help inform his approach and dedication to the problem.

Yesterday I spoke with Kentucky Attorney General Russel Coleman about how his office is not just promoting more collaboration among law enforcement.

What also focusing on prevention that especially targets Kentucky's use.

>> We do know that we're making some great progress nationwide and intent.

Hockey overdose deaths have been trending downward, perhaps not as fast as you would like, but any decrease is worth celebrating.

And can you can text to allies that for us about those decreases and maybe what's causing them.

>> I celebrate.

We all celebrate every life saved any percent.

How the crease.

But Renee.

I want to get ahead of ourselves at last year 2023, the year that we have the most up-to-date data.

We lost 1984.

Kentuckians just one to almost 2000.

Kentuckians.

It was the year before about 2200 Kentuckians in a small state.

Now I went to law school to avoid math, but I will tell you and statistics sometimes can can blow over folks what that equates to is one at a time.

Their names associated with every one of those 1984, there are empty seats in the pews next to us.

There are empty seats, it kitchen tables.

There are devastated families.

There are bombs that aren't there.

There are kids that are coming home.

Young kids that we're losing.

We are prosecuting case of a young man, 17 year-old young man from West Kentucky on a scholarship to college took a what?

Yeah.

What appeared to be a purpose said a pain medication.

>> Going to school on a scholarship.

Full ride scholarship.

His father found him the next day.

I'm not out of respect for his family.

Got a not mention his name, his his photo.

It's on my phone.

The photo of him and his scholarship signing with his family, with his friends with his high school on my phone.

Yeah, we're doing better and celebrate every one of those lives.

But we have a long, long way to go.

>> Think about how law enforcement course that's been your a through line through everything that you've done in your professional career.

But to think about how do you get safe young people before they get to college and think, well, I'm gonna try this at all because I need more focus, not knowing that it's laced with deadly fentanyl.

>> Writes in your question is it is a good one.

If if there's one takeaway from our conversation, I want to flag that we exist environment where one pill one pill.

And that doesn't.

That pill can resemble at are all it can resemble something in your medicine cabinet unless that he'll comes from your physician and you're taking it as prescribed.

You are playing Russian roulette with your life.

So when we talk about prevention, it's kids 13 to 26.

>> It it is using this using influencers, social media influencers using social media platforms.

>> Using deals with nil deals with UK with U of L and your alma mater with Western for influencers to look at that camera, Renee and say Trent Noah, for instance, at UK from from Harlan and also message or gym on Hadley at the University of Louisville looking at that camera and the message essentially saying you want to wear this jersey, you want to be like me.

You want to play on this court.

You're better.

We had out it BWI.

The campaign is called better without it.

And I'll admit to yeah, I'm a I mean, that is a little Polly and on the front end, it has what's known as a positivity driven message.

I've had to practice saying that I want to beat that podium and say don't do it.

Why what the data says we have to give kids agency that they're smart and they they listen to social media influencers and their peers and their peers.

It would end.

So why not leverage this and their peers?

>> To get a positivity driven message, they're focused on health.

They're focused on bettering themselves.

So let's now there are some that say, well, their populations, you can never get to.

But we're going to save as many lives as we can.

The data this has been done in Florida, Broward County and other counties in Florida.

So we're scaling it up.

It is statewide.

It is using starting with athletes were going to use other social media influencers that we can get down to a zip code we can look at.

Is it Kobe?

The heat?

He sits at 4, 0, 5, 0, 2, I think we could identify who are the most impactful?

Social media influencers.

In your neighborhood.

And then how do we if they're the right messenger?

If we were only going to use the right messengers, how do we use them to get out there?

Hey, you're better off without Better being healthy building, positive relationships, having a sense of self taking care of myself exercising again by some poly on its face.

But this has been proven to work elsewhere and we're doing it here, not with taxpayer dollars, either.

We're using opioid settlement dollars money from the opioid lawsuits.

Those that brought this crisis here are paying for.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Many of the most inspiring stories.

You'll hear it all met.

Are those of people celebrating sobriety.

They have lived through the very challenges that are being addressed here at the summit.

Laura Rogers talks with Robyn Parker of Southeastern Kentucky, who was here this week to share her story of addiction.

And recovery.

>> Robin, you not only work for Operation Unite, but you are also a hope ambassador here at the Rx and Illicit Drug summit.

So tell us more about what that means to be hope.

Ambassador, I want to pershee not for paying my name out there and saying, you know that this is something that should do.

I'm forever grateful that I have then it because with my story, it instills hope to other people, not just people that are in recovery, but that have that sound recovery yet.

So when I was an addiction, I didn't think that there was a lot outside of that for me.

I thought that that was how I would surely got out of this world.

>> And I didn't think that anyone cared are left for me in any capacity.

And so when you're on this side of the stance, right, you see all of these wonderful, amazing people that come together and that are willing to fight for the cause and for their sobriety.

And just so people poured into me and I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to stand in front of you and everyone in say, hey, you know, you can be in recovery.

There is the last out there that's worth living.

I would have never imagined being here at the arts center in Nashville.

I mean that this is a dream come true.

My hope is that my story will it just set a fire and people in that say, hey, if she can do and I can truly did at can make something of my life.

I can make those ashes and make a beauty at it.

So yeah.

And is that such a key part of it for those that are in the throes of addiction when they see someone like >> you that's gone through that and it's come out on the other side.

How can that provide the inspiration to seek help?

Absolutely.

And so when I was in addiction and I would see these people that I had been to parties with, that I had gotten.

How is >> that?

I had done all these crazy while things with and you see their stories is like you see on this wall here at UC the stories of how they came out of it.

They thought it like their lives are worth living now they have sought the diction and they have one there on the other side now.

And so when I was incarcerated are and how low can never forget, this girl just came in.

She was just like me.

We did the same things see.

And we've got Howard to saying things and she was there in front of me, a completely change the woman and she gets out to Brady and then it clicked if she can do it.

So And so it and family asset recovery.

And it's been amazing and wonderful.

And I've been clean and sober for 6 years.

Now.

And so, I mean, like I said, I would never imagine me being here and just tell.

She was so many great people and they're fighting for the cause.

They're fighting for the person that spotting a nation right now trying to break down these barriers so that people can have a good, healthy, normal loss and you're getting to speak.

I'm sure with a lot of people and share with them what it was like for you when you're going through addiction and the recovery in the treatment methods that works for you.

Isn't that helpful for providers to hear?

Hey, this is what helped KET me on track and help me find sobriety.

I mean, for the 12 step programs is that they do help tremendously.

Have a lot of people, a lot of friends that are in recovery that have wintery haves and they've come out and been phenomenal.

But I will say for me.

>> My of my stories a little different.

You know, my faith in Jesus is set me free.

And through my sense prayer, he brought me home to the is mama.

But then I know that the Lord has put me here at operation New, not so that we can point to the kids rach because we felt like we can combat against this all day long.

But if you can get to these kids and prevent it from even being a sot in their mind than you can really change the future if you are a wonderful success story, we're so happy for you.

Robin Parker, on behalf of Operation Unite.

Also Hope the messenger here at the Art Wrexham.

It's great talking with you.

>> So glad for her success.

Thank you, Lord, for that story.

You'll hear more interviews from the Rx Illicit Drug summit here in Nashville throughout the week on Kentucky EDITION, including people sharing their addiction and recovery stories.

But we're always got to see.

♪ ♪ Turning now to politics, Congressman Andy Barr is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026.

Bart is a Republican serving the 6th congressional district in central Kentucky as he has been since 2013, he announced his plans to run last night in Richmond at immediately voiced his full support.

President Donald Trump.

>> Running for the United States Senate.

♪ A conservative who honors our Constitution believes in individual freedom and fights every single day for limited government free enterprise and a strong national defense.

A man who loves my family and friends who lives and breathes everything.

Kentucky.

In horses and Kentucky basketball.

Who has a deep passion for our old Kentucky home and her people.

I'm no stranger to fighting the good fight.

I first got fired up for you to run for Congress when Barack Obama was literally shredding our constitution.

And the government at the expense of the people and trying to fundamentally change the fiber of our nation.

I've been fighting.

Nicole left ever sense.

>> If our is running for U.S., Senator Mitch McConnell seat.

Senator McConnell announced a month ago he would not be seeking an 8th term in Kentucky.

Democratic Party is criticizing Barr's record as a member of the U.S. House Democratic Party Chair Colmon Eldridge says, quote, and Congress.

Andy Barr has done absolutely nothing.

While the Trump administration cripples our economy since prices skyrocketing Target's Kentucky signature industries and threatens to got health care.

What 1.5 million Kentuckians rely on, quote.

Daniel Cameron, Kentucky's former attorney general is also running in next year's Republican primary.

He ran for governor in 2023 but lost to Governor Andy Beshear.

Nate Morris, a Lexington businessman is also considering Iran for the Republican nomination.

Although no announcement has come next.

28 Republican members of the Kentucky State Senate are asking the secretary of Homeland Security to delay the input, meditation deadline for the real ID law in Kentucky right now, the deadline is May 7 Senator Jimmy Higdon and chair of the Senate Transportation Committee in Frankfort says Kentucky isn't ready yet.

He says too many Kentuckyian still don't know their options.

And there are still too many drivers licenses offices with long lines.

Real ID's will be needed for adults to fly with.

And the U.S. visit military bases or enter a federal building that requires an I D. Housing advocates in Kentucky joined other across the nation Tuesday to rally for affordable housing at the House.

our ally in Lexington Advocates spoke about the lack of affordable housing and offered what they say.

Our proven solutions to homelessness.

>> In Kentucky, you have a growing number of people who are coming into homelessness for the first time.

People are housing, insecure housing now means it means people were at so they can start to build his ability that they need to grow from that.

I'm in the exact example of that.

I went from being homeless in the early 2.

Thousands again in 2014 and now I'm elected councilwoman.

I have 4 graduate to have a daughter about to get her Masters.

I have and I have 2 boys that are navigating high school is shows you that was meant to get stability.

They're able to grow from the air and everybody in Kentucky no matter their zip code or even if they don't have a zip code that serves housing and we have an opportunity to get that to them.

If you prioritize, we have 120 county focus.

We want to make sure that people understand it.

You are.

We're fighting for Kentucky's.

We're fighting for Kentucky as an opportunity to be a different way to gateway to the south or one of the 4 states in this nation.

But we can make sure that we work together to house people and that's on a federal level.

That's not a statewide level, which is why we're here.

from a local level as many communities of pounds into a race, you have the registration leadership.

Know your guy.

>> You can't get anything done.

>> data suggest to you that you worked both sides of the fan.

>> Both political parties, you can get things done housing supply.

It's a real tough thing unless we help out.

>> Our friends who were beloved members are who are interested in doing so.

I did it.

You are getting getting thing done.

You've got to be concerned with everybody in this town.

Not only just the the homeless, but the people who can do something for us 30 years ago, housing victim, the drug felony.

I'm not a value on our house and on that drug felony.

>> Time I am on us.

If I I can't be a nurse.

I'm livin on a lie like that.

How you?

>> And that's why Bush to clean flight initiative.

Green fled initiative, part meant to this city.

And, you know, it takes a village to raise a child.

But it also takes a city to raise and nourish and adult.

>> Anybody could be harmless in a matter of a paycheck or 2 and too many people who have never been homeless are coming into homelessness across Kentucky, Lexington and Louisville, urban cores of the state.

But there also were a lot of things happen and we can make change and we could be how that can work and be applies in the smaller counties.

So it's about from the neighborhoods to the Hollows to urban centers to the rule corps that we have homes.

This is issue and every one of those communities.

>> According to a survey from Lexington's, a strained voice council.

More than 3,000 people were homeless in August of 2024.

♪ More from the RX and Illicit Drug summit.

Tomorrow, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi spoke this morning here at the Arak summit on border security and its role in reversing the drug epidemic.

Hear more about that tomorrow night.

When we bring it to you from back in Lexington, all be there at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition where we inform connect and inspire.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for being with us.

As we've been covering the Rx, Illicit Drug summit here in Nashville tomorrow night.

♪