Kentucky
A Kentucky county’s recovery from opioid crisis could be a model for Tennessee | Opinion
‘If we pretend that everyone that has made a mistake…should get some sort of economic death penalty where they can never get a job again, we will never overcome this problem.’
Opioid addiction and overdoses on the rise in Tennessee
Cases of opioid addiction and overdoses have increased in recent years in Tennessee.
Mike Fant, Nashville Tennessean
Mandy Gooden grew up in a town that had one of the largest addiction rates in the country, with over five times the OxyContin distribution per capita than the national average in 2000.
After struggling with her own opiate addiction that began with a prescription after surgery in North Carolina, Gooden found recovery in that same hometown – Harlan, Kentucky.
Now, the faded buildings lining Harlan’s downtown are filled with posters for recovery groups, prevention events and nightly AA meetings in an alleyway beside the local bank.
Though the county still had a far higher overdose death rate than the national average in 2021, for the past three years, treatment efforts have increased. And the number of deaths has dropped.
Harlan has established positions devoted to recovery, a recovery-focused drug court, transport programs and reemployment services. Day after day, Gooden has been part of that change. Now in long-term recovery, she helps others recover through a position funded by opioid settlement money.
Over the next 18 years, Harlan is expected to receive over $10 million in additional funds from pharmaceutical companies and distributors who exacerbated the opioid crisis, according to the Kentucky Attorney General’s office.
“In Harlan, sober is the new cool,” said Gooden.
Gooden manages local cases classified under Casey’s Law, shorthand for the Matthew Casey Wethington Act for Substance Abuse Intervention. It was instituted in Kentucky in 2004 after the 23-year-old Casey died from a heroin overdose. The law helps families petition courts to get treatment for loved ones who are unwilling or unable to do so themselves.
Harlan’s success in recovery may provide a model for rural Tennessee communities as the state prepares to receive over $1.2 billion in abatement funds over the next 18 years. Dr. Stephen Patrick, former director of Child Health Policy at Vanderbilt, has been a part of efforts to outline how communities should use these funds, though guidelines for spending are lacking, he said.
In Harlan County, recovery takes a whole community
The money will aid recovery efforts. But for some, it will come too late.
As the coal industry declined through the 1990s, poverty and unemployment soared in Harlan, with over 25 percent of the county’s population of about 25,000 falling below the poverty line.
Tom Vicini, president and CEO of drug prevention and recovery organization Operation UNITE, said some unemployed coal miners sold their prescriptions to support their families or to buy more drugs themselves.
As Gooden and others worked to create an anti-addiction program, Kateena Haynes, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Appalachia, advocated for children who’ve experienced what she calls “horrific situations and circumstances.”
“They think that, ‘You know, my parents haven’t had a job, and I’m not going to have a job, and so why don’t I just use drugs?’” Haynes said. “I think that the greatest thing that we do is just to give kids hope.”
The Harlan drug court has also stepped in, providing rehabilitation.
The Harlan drug court provides support for those struggling with addiction
Amber Stepp said she landed her first job through the drug court in 2021 after struggling with an OxyContin addiction.
“[Drug court workers] taught me how to grocery shop; they got me to get a bank account; they just taught me to live a normal and productive life,” said Stepp. “They inspired me to find something I wanted to do and something that I’m passionate about and make that my career.”
She became a peer support specialist, someone who is in successful recovery, trained to support others struggling with addiction.
She also helps run local recovery meetings and Harlan’s coalition of Operation UNITE, organizing community outreach events to prevent addiction.
Through efforts led by Dan Mosley, Harlan has further advanced opportunities for people who may not otherwise be able to access recovery.
As Harlan’s Judge-Executive, Mosley helped establish the Harlan County Drug Summit in 2019. He developed Ride for Recovery, which pays community action agencies or private transit providers to transport someone to recovery if they are unable to. Harlan also provides job reentry services.
“If we pretend that everyone that has made a mistake as it relates to their addiction should get some sort of economic death penalty where they can never get a job again, we will never overcome this problem,” said Mosley.
“They were loved back to life here.”
Originally from Nashville, Virginia Hunt is currently a journalism and biology student at Northwestern University with a special interest in public health reporting.
Kentucky
Kentucky football spring game offers early look at Will Stein’s Cats
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Kentucky
Kentucky has reportedly moved on from top-10 transfer Paulius Murauskas

Kentucky
Kentucky gets some potentially good news concerning Donnie Freeman
Time is of the essence if you’re Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats right now. With the transfer portal set to close in just a few days, chaos reigns as programs and players scramble to secure their next opportunities. Among the fray is Kentucky, which finds itself navigating a tumultuous landscape in search of elite talent. With many of the Top 25 players already committed, the urgency for the Wildcats to land a game-changing recruit has never been more at the forefront following this season.
One of Pope’s primary targets is Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman. The 6-foot-9 rising junior made waves during his time at Syracuse, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 47.4 percent from the field last season. His potential is undeniable; many experts predict Freeman will be a future first-round NBA draft pick, making him a coveted asset for any program.
Freeman’s recent visit to Kentucky has sparked much-needed hope. However, despite positive feedback from his trip, he left without making a commitment to join one of college basketball’s blue bloods. The competition is fierce. The question looms: Can Kentucky outmaneuver these schools and secure his commitment?
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Well, Friday morning, the Cats were able to outlast one of their deepest competitions for now in Connecticut. Freeman was set to make his way to see the Huskies, but he has since cancelled his Friday visit, per UConn Report (subscription required). Now it appears the Huskies officially have bowed out of the race. That’s one down, and just the Alabama Crimson Tide, it appears, stands in the way for Mark Pope and Kentucky.
Mark Pope faces additional pressure following the return of Rob Wright to BYU, leaving the Wildcats in a precarious position when it comes to key portal targets. They need to act swiftly to avoid being left without significant talent as the portal closes. Freeman’s skill set would not only bolster their roster but would also complement rising star Malachi Moreno, as Freeman would be the ideal fit for the power forward.
As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on Mark Pope and his ability to close this deal. The stakes are high, and for Kentucky, landing Donnie Freeman could be the key to turning chaos into triumph, but will they be able to close perhaps the deal amidst the age of transfer portal madness? Well, they are one step closer now, it appears.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball closing in on a Donnie Freeman commitment?
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