FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 02, 2024) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today the appointment and re-appointment of five members of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. The Commission is the mechanism designed by the Kentucky General Assembly to distribute the Commonwealth’s share of nearly $900 million recovered in opioid settlements.
The Commission is comprised of nine voting and two non-voting members including stakeholders from the prevention and treatment community, law enforcement and victims of the drug crisis.
The Attorney General announced the following appointments (click to download photos):
- Jason Roop, Ph.D., of Campbellsville, appointed by the Attorney General to represent victims of the opioid crisis. Dr. Roop is an Assistant Professor of Business and Theology at Campbellsville University and was first appointed in June 2022. His new term will expire in 2026;
- Van Ingram, of Frankfort, appointed by the Attorney General to represent the drug treatment and prevention community. Ingram is Executive Director for the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy and was first appointed in 2022. His new term will expire in 2026;
- Dr. Patricia Freeman, of Lexington, appointed by the University of Kentucky from the HEALing Communities study team. Dr. Freeman is a Professor in the University of Kentucky’s College of Pharmacy and was first appointed in July 2023. Her new term will expire in 2026;
- State Representative Chris Fugate, of Chavies, appointed by Speaker of the House David Osborne as a non-voting member; and
- Karen Kelly, Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Hal Rogers (KY-05), of Somerset, appointed by President of the Senate Robert Stivers as a non-voting member.
Last month, Attorney General Coleman announced the commission awarded 51 organizations across Kentucky over $12 million in grants which will serve to improve treatment, prevention and enforcement efforts across Kentucky.
“I am honored to serve the people of Kentucky in this role. As a person in long-term recovery, I take very seriously the responsibility to help ensure more people have access to innovative, transformative and life-saving treatment modalities,” said Dr. Jason Roop. “The recovery journey doesn't end when treatment is completed, and establishing and maintaining a recovery-friendly ecosystem in our communities remains paramount to our continued success for many years to come. We are truly making a difference through the work of this commission, and there's even more life-saving work to be done.”
“Thanks to teamwork from across the Commonwealth, we have seen drug overdose deaths decline the last two consecutive years. But there is a lot more work left to do, we will keep supporting addiction treatment programs until every Kentuckian is saved and has found recovery,” said Office of Drug Control Policy Executive Director Van Ingram. “For those struggling with addiction, there is hope for you in Kentucky and we are ready to help you find healing.”
"I am honored to have been reappointed to serve on the Commission and look forward to our continued work to mitigate the opioid crisis in Kentucky,” said Dr. Patricia Freeman.
“I’ve seen firsthand the damage opioid abuse has done to so many lives and the toll it has taken on communities across our Commonwealth. It is heartbreaking, but there is hope and this Commission’s work is a major part of our efforts to save Kentuckians from addiction,” said Representative Chris Fugate. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve in this capacity and look forward to working together to reach our goal.”
“Over the last 20 years, Kentucky has been a national leader in combatting the opioid epidemic. Other states have modeled their prescription drug monitoring programs from Kentucky’s, and other congressional districts have tried to replicate Congressman Hal Rogers’ holistic approach at Operation UNITE,” said Karen Kelly. “This commission gives Kentucky another opportunity to lead the nation and I am honored to be a part of our joint mission to save lives,” said Karen Kelly, Chief of Staff for Congressman Hal Rogers and commission appointee for Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers.”
“It’s an honor to serve alongside these men and women as we take on the drug crisis in Kentucky,” said Attorney General Coleman. “Together, we will be responsible stewards of the settlement funds as we build out a gold-standard statewide prevention effort to join the existing treatment and enforcement work that is saving lives and making families whole.”
In addition to these appointments, the Commission’s membership includes:
- Chris Evans, of Louisville, Commission Executive Director;
- Mark Metcalf, of Lancaster, Kentucky State Treasurer;
- Karen Butcher, of Georgetown, representing victims of the opioid crisis;
- Eric Friedlander, of Louisville, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services;
- Von Purdy, of Louisville, Vice President for Advancement and Community Engagement at Simmons College; and
- Darren "Foot" Allen, of Mount Vernon, representing the law enforcement community.
Read the Attorney General’s executive order appointing the Commissioners.