By Kentucky is committing tens of millions of dollars to support psychedelic research as part of its fight against opioid addiction, the state announced Wednesday.
At a press conference held by the Kentucky Opioid Reduction Advisory Board, Attorney General Daniel Cameron detailed the commission’s plans to find new treatments for people suffering from opioid use disorders. psychedelic research.
“We can’t keep losing more than 2,000 Kentuckians.” [to addictions] Every year,” Cameron said. Quoted from Psychedelic Alpha.
in the announcementthe panel said its proposals included “research into new treatments to reverse the chemical effects of opioid addiction, including opioid withdrawal.”
“Kentucky must take all necessary steps to overcome the opioid epidemic,” said Brian Hubbard, chairman and executive director of the Kentucky Opioid Reduction Advisory Committee (KYOAAC). “As we begin the next phase of our fight against this crisis, we must explore all treatment options that show breakthrough therapeutic potential. Our goal is to create a new standard for treating opioid addiction. to investigate the creation of and finally end this cycle of pain in the Commonwealth.”
“In the coming months, the Commission will consider the possibility of investing at least $42 million over the next six years in the creation of public-private partnerships to facilitate, support, and facilitate their development,” Mr. Hubbard said at a press conference on Wednesday. said. Ibogaine has been used throughout the FDA approval process. ” According to Psychedelic Alpha.
The money will come from a $26 billion settlement last year between several state and local governments and some of the country’s biggest pharmaceutical companies over their role in driving the opioid epidemic.
The Kentucky Opioid Reduction Advisory Board was established last year and was tasked with distributing more than $842 million given to the federal government in last year’s settlement.
“The Commission consists of nine voting members and two non-voting members, and includes stakeholders such as the prevention and treatment community, law enforcement, and victims of the opioid crisis, among others. .” The Commission’s website explains:.
The settlement resolved “more than 4,000 state and local claims nationwide.” According to Cameron’s website, And it was “the second largest multinational agreement in U.S. history, after the Tobacco Masters Reconciliation Agreement.”
“Details of the interim settlement were first announced on July 21, 2021, and after careful consideration, Attorney General Cameron signed the settlement on behalf of the Commonwealth. We have joined a broad coalition of state and local governments in participating in both the settlement agreement with Johnson and the settlement agreements with three drug distributors: AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson,” the website explains. are doing.
“The two settlement agreements will require distributors and J&J to pay billions to curb the opioid epidemic, totaling $26 billion over 18 years, with approximately $22.7 billion available for opioid control. ”
Prime Minister Cameron appointed Mr. Hubbard to oversee the commission last year.
At a press conference Wednesday, Mr. Hubbard expressed the urgency to contain the epidemic.
“We must overcome the opioid epidemic by any humanitarian means necessary,” Mr. Hubbard said, as quoted by Psychedelic Alpha. “Our history demands it.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention“Drug overdose deaths increased nearly 30% from 2019 to 2020, a five-fold increase since 1999.”
“Of the 91,799 drug overdose deaths in 2020, nearly 75% were opioid-related. From 2019 to 2020, we saw a significant change in opioid-related mortality,” the CDC said. says.
