Funds earmarked for substance abuse prevention

Kentucky’s Boyd County has been chosen for inclusion in the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said the HIDTA program provides law enforcement agencies in designated counties with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug production and trafficking.

Boyd County is one of only 13 counties nationwide to receive new HIDTA designations this year.

“Expanding the HIDTA program in Kentucky is a top priority of mine because of its remarkable record of success,” McConnell said. “The enhanced coordination and federal assistance that come with the designation will help keep Boyd County families safe. The Trump administration and this Republican Senate are united in our commitment to saving lives from the scourge of opioid and substance abuse.”

Kentucky has been devastated by the nation’s drug epidemic, losing more than 1,300 Kentuckians last year alone to drug overdoses while Boyd County is suffering drug-related offenses driven primarily by the influx of illicit methamphetamines, fentanyl, prescription drugs, cocaine, and heroin.

“We are grateful to Senator McConnell for leading the national fight against the epidemic of opioid and substance abuse,” Eric Chaney, Boyd County Judge /Executive, said. “Senator McConnell’s stature helped convince the White House to include us in HIDTA and to take part in its work. Now, we’ll have access to new federal tools that can bolster the ongoing work of local law enforcement to save lives right here in Kentucky.”