Two west Kentucky sheriff’s offices are partnering with rehab organization Kentucky Addiction Centers in an alliance aimed at treating victims of addiction.
Lyon County and McCracken County Sheriff’s Offices launched “Badges of Hope” last week. Lyon County Sheriff Brent White said Kentucky Addiction Centers is offering some free and reduced drug rehab for people struggling with addiction and in dire need of help.
White said Kentucky Addiction Centers will accept people who reach out to law enforcement for help. He said he wants people to see the police badge as a way to get out of their situation.
“When somebody sees a badge many times it’s the worst day of their life,” White said. “And so we wanted to turn that symbol around and offer it as hope for somebody that’s battling addiction.”
White said law enforcement will transport people seeking treatment at no charge.
“Some of these people that we deal with are so down on their luck, they’ve given sold traded everything they own physically down to the furniture in their home to be able to get their next fix,” White said.
He said the program aims to help anyone that “desires to get out of that lifestyle.”
Kentucky Addiction Centers recently opened a location in Paducah.