- 5/6/2025
On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) held a press briefing at the Kentucky State Capitol to announce the decline in the state's overdose deaths.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to your state capitol.
00:03We're here today to celebrate a truly amazing milestone.
00:08After years of challenges and struggle, we are seeing what real hope looks like
00:14in the Commonwealth's fight against the scourge of addiction.
00:18Just last week, we received data from 2024
00:22showing that Kentucky saw a decrease of 30.2 percent in overdose deaths compared to 2023.
00:38It is hard to understate what a decrease of this size means.
00:44I remember last year when we had reported a 9.8 percent decrease compared to the previous year
00:52and the type of hope that that had created, and how in 2022 there was a decrease of 2.5 percent
00:58from 2021, making Kentucky one of the only states that's now seen three years of decreases in a row.
01:06I think about 2022, being that first year since 2018, we saw those numbers moving the right way.
01:15It is a hard-fought miracle that we are here to celebrate the third year in a row
01:20that overdose deaths have declined in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,
01:24which means more Kentuckians have achieved recovery and more of our families have been saved.
01:29Thank you all for your work.
01:37However, today's celebration doesn't come without real pain.
01:42According to the 2024 overdose fatality report,
01:45we still lost 1,410 Kentuckians last year to a drug overdose.
01:53That is 1,410 too many. It is 1,410 children of God, somebody's kids, somebody's parents,
02:01somebody's brothers or sisters or friends that were taken from us far too soon.
02:07These are all children of God, missed by their friends, families, and their communities.
02:12Two drugs in particular continue to be the most prevalent, contributing to deadly overdoses in the
02:18state. Fentanyl was present in 62.3 percent of overdoses, while methamphetamine was present in
02:2450.8 percent of overdose deaths. Today, we also have another sign of hope because I remember last year
02:34being here to celebrate an almost 10 percent decrease overall, but our African-American population
02:41had actually seen an increase. Well, we can now report that in 2024, we saw a 37.3 percent decrease
02:53in our African-American populations for drug overdoses.
03:03I want to thank everybody who made a day like today happen, an announcement like today happen.
03:10I remember a year ago, seeing the excitement, but also the hurt, and making the pledge that everybody
03:17deserves to see that decrease because no one wants to lose their friend or family member.
03:24This year's overdose report indicates that almost all Kentucky age groups saw a decrease,
03:28with the increase only being among those ages 75 to 84. So today, I am thankful, thankful that
03:36more Kentuckians are alive and in recovery that we still mourn the loss and rededicate ourselves to
03:43doing even more in their honor. We'll never stop working to bring those facing addiction into recovery.
03:52All of us have felt the heartbreak of losing somebody, of having somebody's family member walk up to us
04:01at an event and tell us that that person that we know is gone, having the wind knocked out of you,
04:08seeing the pain in that individual's eyes. And I know we're all desperate for a future where this
04:15doesn't happen to any family and none of us ever have to hear that news. This accomplishment has been
04:22a team effort and we have partners across the state stepping up. We have a lot of people in the rotunda
04:29today that work in treatment and in recovery. And for you, we are so grateful. Many of you are in
04:36recovery yourself and you go into the most difficult trauma of your life every day when you could be
04:43doing anything else because it helps other people see a light at the end of the tunnel. It gives hope
04:49to those that have maybe lost hope. And so to each of you, a very special thank you for going through
04:56that, maybe over and over and feeling some of your pain repeatedly, but being willing to do so to help
05:03that next person and the next person and the next person. And everybody in the treatment and recovery
05:09community, thank you for stepping up and doing it every day. No matter how tired yesterday was,
05:15you show up and you give it your best knowing that somebody out there needs you today more than
05:21they've ever needed anyone. And I also want to thank for every, I want to thank every brave Kentuckian
05:27that's asked for help. We wouldn't be here if we didn't have the stigma having been reduced over the
05:34last years and without people willing to say now is the time and I'm ready for help. I'm proud of everybody
05:42in this rotunda from government to the nonprofit sector that has made sure that cost is no longer
05:48a barrier to treatment and recovery. If you ask for help, we can get you help anywhere in the Commonwealth
05:55of Kentucky. I want to thank those that are out distributing Narcan. Last year, we distributed 170,000
06:02doses. The answer to how many times we ought to bring somebody back who's overdosing with Narcan
06:08is every single time. Every time.
06:18Thank you to everybody who works at our 84 syringe exchange program sites. They work. That's not
06:24politics. It's a fact. And we need them to continue so we can keep helping more Kentuckians.
06:32Thank you to Medicaid. Coverage through Medicaid has been a game changer. Cuts to Medicaid could stop
06:41our progress. Last year, over 142,310 Kentuckians got help through Medicaid. Nearly 18,000 Kentuckians
06:51received recovery services in their community paid for by the Kentucky opioid response effort. Let's thank
06:56CORE for all their funding and work 19 Kentuckians sought treatment through the Kentucky State Police
07:10Angel Initiative. What an amazing program where our state police recognized that sometimes people that
07:18they were interacting with just needed help and creating a pathway that they could come in,
07:23ask for it, and we can move them in the right direction. I want to thank everybody at the KY Help Call
07:29Center. We had 3,320 incoming calls. They made over 14,000 outgoing follow-up calls. Think about that.
07:37For 3,300 calls coming in, more than 14,000 were made in response to support those individuals. And we now
07:46have 21 counties certified as recovery-ready communities. Let's get to 120 in the next couple of years.
08:00Since day one of this administration, we have been committed to becoming a national
08:05leader in fighting this epidemic. Here in Kentucky, we believe in second chances. Helping people get back
08:13on their feet is a win-win. It helps our economy. It helps families. It's the right thing to do.
08:20We recently announced that Kentucky secured another record low recidivism rate, meaning these services
08:26that we're providing in our jails and in our prisons and providing re-entry services to provide a skill,
08:33help people, help people secure a job, is supporting more Kentuckians than ever before.
08:47These are our Kentucky families. Regardless of what somebody's been through, tomorrow is a chance
08:54for that better life. And when we are smart, and when we are kind, and when we put these type of
09:00programs into effect, and we work them, and we work them, and we work them, knowing that some of you
09:05have waited to see numbers like this, a decrease like this for decades, I'm just so proud of your
09:12work fighting for the inches that became the feet that became the miles of progress that you can now see.
09:19We want to make sure that every family can build their new Kentucky home, provide that opportunity for
09:25their kids, and that we can heal families while we're healing individuals. It's important today
09:32that we continue to message that if you or someone you know is fighting addiction, today's celebration
09:37shows that there is hope and treatment and recovery work. You'll find no judgment when seeking treatment.
09:45In fact, we'll be really proud of you. You'll be met with love and compassion. To be connected to
09:52treatment, call the KY HELP call center at 833-8KY-HELP. That's 833-859-4357. Before I wrap up and pass it off to
10:04some another, to some amazing people, I want to do a couple of thank yous. Commissioner Dr. Katie Marks
10:12of the Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities for her work.
10:22We got this overdose report a little bit early to help reinvigorate our battle against addiction,
10:30thanks to Megan Steele and Laura Daniel with the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center.
10:41I want to thank all of our law enforcement officers, paramedics, and firefighters who are removing
10:46illegal drugs off our streets and distributing Narcan. I've seen firsthand a first responder bring somebody
10:53back who I thought had breathed his last breath to give that individual an opportunity to fix and
11:01heal their lives. I want to thank all of our state and local agencies who are on the front line,
11:07our treatment providers and peer support specialists across the state because of you. People can access
11:14treatment anytime, anywhere. I think we have the best providers in the entire country. How about y'all?
11:28And once again, I want to thank everyone who asked for help this year or the year before,
11:33whether it's your first, second, or tenth time seeking treatment. As long as you're trying, we're proud of
11:39you. We're here for you. We know the next time has that much better chance of being successful. We're going
11:45to show up again and again, day after day, until we ultimately end this epidemic. It arose in our lifetime,
11:54and I will not sit by and let it continue into my kids' and eventually their kids' lifetime. It is our
12:02responsibility to leave a better world for the next generation. And thank you to everybody in this room
12:08that we can now see that this is possible. So let's keep going. Next year, let's try to make it just as
12:14big, and the year after that, and the year after that, because so many people are counting on us.
12:20To continue this work, today I'm signing the Fiscal Year 2026 Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug
12:26Activities Plan. This is the plan that supports the Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky National Guard,
12:33as well as our federal and local partners in destroying the supply of illicit drugs in our
12:38communities. These folks work hard. During the 2024 fiscal year, they seized more pounds of fentanyl,
12:46meth, cocaine, and heroin compared to the prior year, and they also made more arrests. I'm proud of the work
12:53that you all are doing.
13:01So today, this team is represented by KSP Commissioner P.J. Burnett, Adjutant General Hal Lamberton,
13:07and the Guards Chief of Staff Steve King. If they and all the other representatives of those agencies
13:13would please join me, I'm going to sign the plan. And then we're going to turn it over to our new
13:18Cabinet Secretary, a guy who you all know really well and has led us through a lot of challenges, Dr. Stack.
14:092025, congratulations.
14:11Thank you, Governor. Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you all for being here to be part of Team Kentucky
14:39on such a special day as today. Today, at least for me, I feel relieved. I feel relieved that we're
14:46able to celebrate a 30 percent reduction in the loss of Kentuckians' lives to the tragedy of addiction
14:52and overdose. I feel additionally relieved that in the African-American community, which had
14:58disproportionately faced a higher mortality rate, and unfortunately still does, we saw a much larger
15:04decrease of 37 percent in the reduction in overdose deaths last year. I think it's essential, though,
15:11that we not lose sight of the people when we talk about these statistics. The people who are our
15:17friends, our family members, our loved ones, our community members. Behind every one of these
15:22individuals is a story. Behind every one of these individuals is the hope, the hope of a life full of
15:28potential and opportunity, and all too tragically, the loss of that hope and that opportunity when their
15:34lives are prematurely curtailed. This is not about someone else. This is about all of us.
15:41Every one of us in Kentucky and every one of us in the United States of America knows someone,
15:47if not multiple someones, who have suffered from the difficulties of addiction. And unfortunately,
15:54most of us probably know someone not far away who has died from overdose. This is about all of us.
16:01This is about all of our communities. It's about all of us coming together to try to do more about
16:06this so that we do not stop and we do not tire until we've eliminated this epidemic, until no one
16:12needs to die anymore from this problem of substance use disorder, overdose, addiction, and death.
16:19Our efforts and our advocacy absolutely must continue, and the governor's given statistics about the
16:23impact we've had. He's also talked about the importance of Medicaid. Folks, without the resources
16:30that have been provided to make Narcan available, to make fentanyl test strips available, to promote
16:34harm reduction, to enable those 84 syringe exchange programs, which really are much more than just that,
16:41they're full comprehensive harm reduction programs that help identify people in need and help get them to
16:46services and supports that enable them to get on a road to recovery. Without the supports of Medicaid
16:53and the other public health agencies, federally and at the state level that support this work,
16:58those things won't be able to continue. With the Narcan that we've distributed, that has saved lives.
17:05That undeniably has saved lives. It needs to continue. So your advocacy and your efforts and your
17:09outreach have never been more important than they are now, so that next year we can stand here again
17:14and announce yet another 30 percent or more reduction in deaths related to overdose.
17:23So at a time when our society seems too sadly and irretrievably committed to tearing itself apart,
17:29I think what we have seen here is our power when we come together, the things we can accomplish when
17:34we work together, when we don't divide ourselves but we find what brings us in common and support our
17:39communities and support each other. And so I want to encourage us today that as we stand here in
17:45gratitude and in relief at announcing a 30 percent reduction in our overdose deaths, that we acknowledge
17:52and that we recommit that our work is not yet done. I want to ask each and every one of you,
17:57I think sometimes when we talk about this stuff, we think about folks like governors or secretaries or
18:03law enforcement doing things that are heroic. The most heroic thing is what each of you,
18:09each of us decide to do in our daily actions. It's how we treat each other.
18:13So in a world full of negativity and in a world full of division,
18:17please do not lose sight of your ability, your power to turn that story around, to make that narrative
18:24one of celebration and one of positivity. So please, I encourage us all as we recommit to ending the
18:30opioid epidemic, to ending the scourge of death related to overdose, that we commit to treating
18:37with each other with kindness and with caring and with compassion. Because if we do those things,
18:43then every Kentuckian truly can reach their full potential and all of us can live in communities
18:48that thrive. So thank you very much.
18:58It's my pleasure now to introduce Mr. Van Ingram. Van is the Executive Director for the Office of Drug
19:03Control Policy here in Kentucky. There are many heroes in our story and our efforts. Van is certainly one
19:09of them. His commitment over an extended period of time in being tireless about treating this as a medical
19:17problem as a public health problem, not first and foremost as a problem of punishing people,
19:23but of supporting people and helping them on a path to recovery. His commitment and his unrelenting
19:28efforts in this area have been invaluable to our success. So, Van.
19:40Thank you, Dr. Stack. I was saddened to hear that my good friend, Secretary Freelander,
19:45was leaving the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, but it did my heart good to see that
19:49you're going to be the one to replace him. You led us through the COVID-19 epidemic,
19:53and I know you'll do a great job with CHFS. Well, this is an exciting day.
20:00To say we've been waiting for it is really wrong. We've been working for it.
20:05People in this room have been working for it. Our law enforcement friends have been working for it.
20:09Our friends from treatment and recovery, we've all put our head down and tried to get here.
20:15I've been in this office, what later this year will be 21 years.
20:19Drug overdoses didn't ever go down until 2018, where they went down 15 percent.
20:24Then COVID came and fentanyl came. And it just seemed like this is just devastating. What are we going to do?
20:32Well, we put our heads down and we all went to work, didn't we? And now for the third year in a row,
20:39there's less families that have suffered. 500 fewer families in 2024 than in 2023 had an empty seat at
20:45the table. That's something to celebrate. But we don't declare victory. We've got a long way to go.
20:521,400 people still have that loss. 1,400 families had that loss.
20:56So we have lots to do. I do want to thank a few people. The Kentucky Engine Prevention Research
21:02Center, not only do they put this report together with our help, they meet with us on a monthly basis,
21:07with myself and public health and behavioral health. They keep us up to date on what's happening
21:12at all times with this opioid epidemic. So it's not just a once a year commitment from KIPRC. We meet
21:19with them at least once a month. The Office of the Medical Examiner also helps quite a bit,
21:24as well as the Office of Vital Statistics. So we want to thank all those folks.
21:29But mainly we want to thank folks from every corner of this state that have worked hard,
21:34whether it's a syringe service program, a recovery community center, a treatment provider,
21:39a peer support specialist, or just somebody who advocates for those that are sick with this disease.
21:46We thank you.
21:47I want to say one of the cool things about this job, there's a couple. One, this state really works
21:56well together. We don't do any of this in a vacuum. I meet with Dr. Stack's folks all the time,
22:04and behavioral health is there with us. Our friends in law enforcement, we all work on this together.
22:09Medicaid, always at our meetings, always pitching in. That's the really nice thing about this job,
22:15this state really works well together. The other thing is I get to meet people in recovery at every
22:20corner of this state. And the young man I want to introduce comes from a corner of the state,
22:25Paducah, Kentucky. If you haven't been there, it's a beautiful town. I suggest you go.
22:32But Brandon Fitch has been just remarkable at the work he has done in the Paducah and Four Rivers area.
22:38What he has done to bring together a recovery community center within that community mental
22:45health center. They also have a drop in place for young people. They bought a van and they go out
22:51to the far reaching communities in western Kentucky to provide services. And recently,
22:57he became one of the newest employees of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
23:01So Paducah has a big loss. But join me in welcoming Brandon Fitch.
23:13Before I do that, I should have looked at my notes. We've got a short video we want to show you.
23:19And we want you to see just how easy it is to find treatment resources in this state.
23:24The folks that work at 8338 KY Health, Operation Unite, runs that program for us. They do a
23:32tremendous job. And I want you to see just a little bit of what they do.
23:35So anyone needing resources for substance misuse should reach out to the Kentucky Health
23:40Statewide Call Center. A screening and referral specialist is going to take your call. They're
23:44going to do a brief screening and collect information that's going to help them connect you to viable
23:48resources. And then they will call you back with the resources that you need, whether it be for
23:53yourself or a loved one or someone that you're working with. Kentucky Health Statewide Call Center.
23:58This is Heather. How can I help you? Great. Now, will he have access to transportation if we can find
24:02him a place to go? And what kind of distance are we looking at for traveling? Do you know what kind
24:07of substances that he's been using? Do you maybe know when his last state of use was? And would you
24:12happen to know how frequently that he was using? Have you been to either residential or outpatient
24:18substance use treatment in the past? Have you ever been told that you have a mental health diagnosis?
24:25Alrighty. And you're looking to get into a residential program? So at this point in our call,
24:30I will reach out to our resources that we have here. It's statewide. And I'm going to make a few
24:36calls. And would it be okay if I give you a call back in about 15 minutes and connect you with those
24:40resources? And then in the 24-hour period, I like to call back and do a follow-up and just make sure that
24:45what I give you is going to be beneficial for him. Does that sound okay? The process is simple.
24:51You just dial the number, call, and that that's really all you do. Answer a few brief questions
24:57and then we're going to do the rest of the work. So our hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. until
25:0210 p.m. and then Saturday and Sunday 8 30 a.m. until 5 30 p.m. But any calls that come through after
25:09hours are monitored for crisis calls and will be returned within 24 hours.
25:26We're very blessed in this state to have two programs, Find Help Now KY.org,
25:33run by the Kentucky Injury Prevention Research Center. It's now included mental health services,
25:38naloxone services, as well as recovery housing, and then 8 3 3 8 KY help. Lots of states would love
25:45to have what we have in those two programs. They do tremendous work for us. So now I'm going to turn
25:51it back over to Brandon. Thank you, Ben.
26:03He already mentioned that I am a brand new member of the Cabinet of Health and Family Services, but I
26:08want to say the most important thing for me to say today is my name is Brandon and I'm a person in long-term recovery.
26:24You see, hope does not happen by accident. It is built one relationship, one community, and one second
26:32chance or fair chance at a time. Today we've heard about some incredible progress Kentucky has made,
26:39a measurable, significant drop in overdose deaths. These numbers represent real people, individuals,
26:46and families who get to live today. They're healing and building better futures because of Kentucky's
26:52commitment to recovery. These numbers represent proof, and as it was mentioned a moment ago, proof
26:59that when we work in the spirit of collaboration rather than competition, we can change the future.
27:14And I want to repeat some numbers that were already mentioned today because I wrote them down.
27:19As part of Team Kentucky, we're building something powerful in partnerships with communities across the
27:24Commonwealth. In 2024, 142,000 Kentuckians, Medicaid beneficiaries received substance use disorder
27:33services. Over 18,000 Kentuckians accessed core-funded addiction treatment, and nearly 18,000 more received
27:41recovery support services. That's powerful. There are now 458 certified recovery residences in this
27:48state. That means there's 5,660 beds available for transitional living. And 15 recovery community
27:56centers where people in recovery can find connection, purpose, and continued support.
28:05And when we talk about support, we have to understand that when a person who has experienced a substance-related
28:11crisis like an overdose, we know that recovery is not a one-size-fits-all solution. That's why we are committed
28:19to supporting multiple pathways of recovery, because recovery is as unique as every person in this room,
28:29and every person watching today. I am someone who sat on the other side of these services,
28:36a treatment client who found a path forward because people believed in me before I had the opportunity
28:43and the courage to believe in myself. Kentucky invested in me, and now I get to be a part of investing back
28:51in something beautiful, right here from Frankfurt and for all of Kentucky. I am proud to stand here
28:57today as part of Team Kentucky, a state that believes in lifting people up, not shutting them out.
29:04And yes, we have made progress, but the work is not over. You see, fighting the overdose crisis
29:13is like fighting a fire. You don't stop just because the flames are 30% contained. You dig in,
29:20you push harder, you keep going until every ember is out, until every life has the opportunity and the
29:27chance to rebuild. We still have people struggling, families hurting, and we still have a lot of work
29:41to do. But today, we can say without a doubt, recovery is not a dream, it is a reality. And I get it. I know from
29:49my experience. Addiction is frustrating. It's irrational. And it is scary to ask for help. But if you need proof, look at me.
30:02If you need proof, look at our next speaker. Or the thousands and thousands of Kentuckians across the state that are in recovery today. And ask yourself this. If they can do it, why can't I?
30:15Why can't I? If you're struggling, hear this. You are seen. You are valued. And you are not alone. Hope is here. Recovery has never been more possible or more accessible than it is today.
30:33I'm here to tell you that recovery is not rare. It's real. And it's happening right here in Kentucky. Thank you.
30:50So I get the pleasure to introduce the very next speaker and somebody who I've looked up to for quite some time.
30:55You see her throughout Kentucky's initiatives and advocate programs. Tara Hyde, Tara Mosley Hyde, CEO of People Advocating Recovery.
31:06How do I follow that? Thank you, Brandon. And I mean, everyone here.
31:21I'm so grateful. I'm grateful for the moment. But more than anything, I'm grateful as a person in long-term recovery.
31:29In April, I celebrated my 14th year of being a person in long-term recovery.
31:34And it is incredible to me to see what has transpired over the last 14 years, to see where we are today,
31:48to see how we came up over the last couple of years and have collaborated, have spoken up,
31:57have worked together, have came up out of the shadows for my people in the recovery community and have spoken out.
32:09Because that is hard. It is hard to talk about something so personal and so deep.
32:14And for a lot of folks, very traumatizing. And then for my families and my allies, something so personal and so traumatizing to talk about those things.
32:26But it's important. And this is why. This is our why. Today. The moments like today.
32:35Because if it wasn't for those stories, if it wasn't for that resilience, and if it wasn't for those tough conversations,
32:41we wouldn't be here. Because these folks here, sitting on this panel, didn't know.
32:47They didn't know the things that people in recovery needed. They didn't know the things that family members needed.
32:53They didn't know the things that our communities needed. And we have to be the ones that continue
33:00to talk about the things that we need. Because still, we have to work together.
33:081410 lives. That's still 1410 lives and those families that won't be able to celebrate events
33:20and celebrate holidays together this year. We have to continue working on the things that we know
33:29and the things that are working. We have to continue to collaborate and continue to work across sectors.
33:36I work at a nonprofit organization at People Advocating Recovery. And we work to remove barriers for all
33:42individuals who are in or seeking recovery. We work with Van Ingram at the office of the Kentucky
33:48Office of Drug Control Policy all the time. We work with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services
33:53all the time. We work with Louisville Metro Police Department all the time. Work across the aisle.
34:04Work across sectors. Because we have to work together. This is a community problem. And we have to work
34:11together. And not only that, but we need to continue to invest in the things that we know that are working.
34:19And I'm so excited to continue in this work and to continue in this space. Because we know that even
34:26at the, the, even with the current federal uncertainty, I, I'm still excited to see all of my community
34:37members here today and their continued commitment to working in this collaborative space and working
34:43together. Because that's where, that's where I want to live and where I want to stay. And I want you to
34:49know and everybody out in TV land to know that I'm committed to being here and I will show up and I will
34:56show up to the governor's office often and still work together. Because this is about us. This is our
35:06community and we're here and we need to work together. Recovery is lifelong. It's not just in the moment.
35:15It's not just a month. It's not just a year. It's not even just five years. I celebrated 14 years of
35:20recovery and every day I learned something new about myself. And recovery is a beautiful thing.
35:25I get to do all kinds of amazing, wonderful things. Treatment is, is a chapter in that long book of
35:33life of recovery. So let's consider all of the beautiful different recovery support services that
35:40are available in our communities. Let's remember to make those connections and continue to build
35:45that community. And we will continue to do that when we continue to invest. That's all I have.
36:00So today we celebrate this 30 plus percent decrease in overdose deaths, but never forget
36:07that there are so many others out there that need our help. While we announced this last Thursday,
36:13it's only right to have those in the rotunda today and those watching that have put in this hard work
36:19here for this celebration. So we'll ask, we'll answer a few questions from the media on this topic.
36:26And then we'll, we'll open up because I know a number of our speakers here, as well as those that
36:31work in treatment recovery and law enforcement will be available to directly answer your questions one on one.
36:43So every year we've worked to make Narcan more and more accessible, whether that's at a pharmacy,
36:57whether it's through a lot of organizations that are out there, whether it's through state funding,
37:02local funding, Narcan saves lives and anyone who's worried about someone that they know overdosing needs
37:09to have access to Narcan. I remember when I pulled an overdosing man from a car as attorney general
37:20and watching him stop breathing and not having access to Narcan, what it meant to me and how we
37:28outfitted all of our investigators in the next week. And I think it was three days after that,
37:33someone had to use their Narcan to someone overdosing in a McDonald's drive-through at nine o'clock in the
37:40morning. Narcan is absolutely critical to have out there and these potential federal cuts would mean
37:48the loss of lives. Less Narcan, less people we save. So we're going to continue to do everything we can
37:54on a state level. And I know we're joined by our nonprofits and others to make it that much more
37:59accessible because we're living in an age where, especially with fentanyl, the drugs are more
38:04powerful than they've ever been. The chance of an overdose is that much greater than it's ever been,
38:09yet still we've seen this large decrease. Today we talked about the decrease, but we didn't talk about
38:15the fact that we're seeing it even in the face of the most deadly drugs we've ever seen. Narcan,
38:21treatment, recovery, drug seizure, are all how that's happened.
38:35So I don't want to take away anybody's efforts in getting here today. What law enforcement has done
38:42is so incredible. What Narcan does is incredible. But I believe a huge turning point in our battle
38:48against this opioid epidemic was getting it eligible for Medicaid coverage. For Medicaid being there to
38:55be able to put the dollars behind these providers to grow, to have more peer support specialists,
39:00to have more types of treatment and longer recovery services. I believe that was a game changer.
39:07That's why I believe the most serious and significant threat to the progress we've made
39:12would be significant cuts to Medicaid from the federal government. They should not do it.
39:17It would gut rural health care as a whole, but it would also significantly impact addiction services
39:24that are needed. Okay. Thank you all very much.
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