A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Door-to-Door campaign in the Fight Against Heroin will take place in Crestview Hills on Sunday, Dec. 11


With the massive increase in heroin use and the rise in overdoses hitting Northern Kentucky, Crestview Hills is teaming up with Kenton County, The Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, PDS and the Northern Kentucky Health Department to take on the crisis by creating a public awareness campaign. Working together with the county organizations, Crestview Hills will join the campaign with a door-to-door drive on Sunday, December 11 to distribute 1,100 informational door hangers to residents throughout the city.

Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann and Mayor Paul Meier will be joined by volunteers to canvass the neighborhoods placing the door hangers. Volunteers are encouraged to meet at the City Building at 50 Town Center Boulevard at 12:30 p.m.

Kris Knockelmann

Kris Knockelmann

“Heroin is taking lives at record rates and no community has immunity from the powerful drug. We must work together to raise awareness about the terrible dangers of heroin, inform others about resources available to combat this scourge, and provide assistance for those who want help to beat addiction” said Mayor Paul Meier.

Kenton County, in collaboration with the Northern KY Office of Drug Control, Kenton County Detention Center and Boone and Campbell Counties, has created a regional heroin helpline to provide quick response for first responders to intervene with individuals and deal with overdoses.

“The Northern Kentucky Addiction Helpline is a critical tool in helping those struggling with opiate and heroin addition,” said Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann. “Streamlining access to treatment saves lives, and bringing our community together to spread the word about the helpline is an important part of this effort.”

The helpline number is 859-415-9280 and will be staffed 24 hours per day.

St. Elizabeth Medical Center handled over 1,100 overdose emergencies in 2015, over 200 drug-related deaths, and more than 100 babies were born to addicted mothers. The crisis is striking every city and neighborhood, regardless of socio-economic lines.

Community partners working with county leaders have taken the following steps so far this year to tackle the growing problem:

Paul Meier

Paul Meier

* Creation of the Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, led by Kim Moser, that is mapping out a strategic plan for how our region can attack this epidemic.

*A nationally recognized substance abuse treatment program at the Kenton County Detention Center started by Jailer Terry Carl that is currently working with 112 men and women, making it one of the largest treatment facilities in Northern Kentucky.

* Regional Heroin Helpline – 859-415-9280 – that has already been recognized as a model in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for helping folks access treatment.

* Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties have been added to the federally-designated Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), to make additional resources available to our local law enforcement agencies.

* Establishing a Quick Response Team, mixing the best qualities of multiple first responder agencies, to intervene with individuals who have previously overdosed.

PDS has provided assistance by mapping the city into sub areas, making it easy for volunteers to fan out into the neighborhoods at the kick-off event on Sunday. Hot chocolate and other refreshments will be available for the volunteers.

For more information, or to volunteer to distribute door hangers on December 11, RSVP to Kara Kramer by calling 859-341-7373 or email kkramer@crestviewhills.com.


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