Attorney General Russell Coleman announced the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (KYOAAC) has approved funding to continue Kentucky’s first-ever statewide youth drug prevention effort, “Better Without It” (BWI).
Coleman delivered remarks to the KYOAAC regarding phase two of Better Without It. He outlined efforts to expand youth-led engagements and in-person programming in schools and community organizations across the state. The $5,800,000 request was unanimously approved by the Commission.
Launched last year, phase one of BWI has made high-profile partnerships with student athletes like U of L guard, J’Vonne Hadley, UK guard, Trent Noah and even the Wildcats Men’s Basketball Coach, Mark Pope. To date, there have been more than seven million views of “Better Without It” content on Instagram, Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN streaming.
“We’ve seen the BWI initiative work. Now we’re activating a full court press to get this lifesaving message to more places our kids are being influenced,” said Coleman. “Prevention programs like ‘Better Without It’ just don’t reduce statistics; they save lives, families, and futures.”
"I believe in the Better Without It program and have been impressed by the progress we've made so far,” said Commissioner Darren “Foot” Allen, a retired Kentucky State Police Master Trooper who now serves as Manager of Court Security for Kentucky’s Administrative Office of the Courts. “The heart of this project remains reaching youth directly through social media, but there's more to be done. I am grateful to my fellow commissioners for their support of this life saving work."
In 2022, the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission was established by the General Assembly to distribute the Commonwealth’s share of more than $1 billion of settlement funds from lawsuits against certain manufacturers and distributors of opioids. The Commission is made up of 11 members, nine voting and two non-voting. The Commission has adopted nationally recognized principles for allocating funds, including using evidence to guide spending.
So far, the commission has allocated over $85.3 million to 130 organizations fighting the opioid crisis.
KYOAAC's Darren Allen, left, with Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman. Kentucky Today File Photo.
