Opioid public health emergency has Kentuckians wondering what’s next

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Kentucky is one of the hardest hit areas in the country when it comes to the opioid crisis so many here are now wondering what the next steps in the fight against addiction are going to be after president trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency.

In the wake of president trump’s signing of an order declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency those on the front lines of this epidemic are curious to see how the president’s announcement will help in the fight.

“I’m hoping that the short term benefits will be that it’ll reduce stigma about this issue, perhaps it will encourage more people to seek help,” said Kraig Humbaugh with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.

The president’s order will direct federal agencies to give more grant money to fight the crisis but stops short of declaring it a national emergency.

“Which does not allow him to use emergency funding from the federal government that is at his power to be able to address the problem like you would if there was an emergency declaration for a hurricane or some kind of natural disaster,” said Don Rogers with Bluegrass.org.

Still, health officials say they are hopeful the president’s announcement will be a big step forward in reminding people of the severity of this epidemic.

“Unfortunately in 2016 115 Fayette Countians died of drug overdose, 40% of those involved heroin. So we still have a long way to go but this is a good, another step in our progression for some solutions to this problem,” said Humbaugh.