NRADAN Rural Impact Series: Leveraging Opioid Settlement Funds for Rural Impact
Local governments across the country are receiving opioid settlement funds, presenting a critical opportunity to invest in evidence-based strategies that prevent overdose, expand access to treatment, and support long-term recovery. This session will provide an overview of opioid settlement funds, including allowable uses, common challenges, and best practices emerging at the local level. Participants will hear examples of how counties and rural communities are using funds to address gaps in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery supports, with an emphasis on transparency, sustainability, and community-driven decision-making.
Presented by Lauren Carr
Lauren Carr is the Opioid Settlement Advisor for Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program, seconded to the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo). A native of Mayfield, Kentucky, and a graduate of Murray State University with a degree in Organizational Communication, Lauren was called to advocacy after losing her brother, Justin, to a fentanyl overdose in 2011. Since then, she has led youth prevention and harm reduction initiatives, helping establish one of Western Kentucky’s first syringe exchange programs and the Mayfield-Graves County ASAP Youth Council. In her current role, she supports counties across the Commonwealth by providing technical assistance on the use of opioid settlement funds to advance best practices and evidence-based strategies that save lives and strengthen communities.
A Zoom link will be provided via email the day before the event. Please make sure your email address is accurate. You will receive a certificate for your NAADAC CEU after attending the event.
This event is free of charge with a donation (suggested amount of $25).
Presented by Lauren Carr
Lauren Carr is the Opioid Settlement Advisor for Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program, seconded to the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo). A native of Mayfield, Kentucky, and a graduate of Murray State University with a degree in Organizational Communication, Lauren was called to advocacy after losing her brother, Justin, to a fentanyl overdose in 2011. Since then, she has led youth prevention and harm reduction initiatives, helping establish one of Western Kentucky’s first syringe exchange programs and the Mayfield-Graves County ASAP Youth Council. In her current role, she supports counties across the Commonwealth by providing technical assistance on the use of opioid settlement funds to advance best practices and evidence-based strategies that save lives and strengthen communities.
A Zoom link will be provided via email the day before the event. Please make sure your email address is accurate. You will receive a certificate for your NAADAC CEU after attending the event.
This event is free of charge with a donation (suggested amount of $25).
