LEXINGTON, Ky. — Over 50 organizations across Kentucky are splitting more than $12 million this month for opioid prevention, treatment and enforcement efforts from the Attorney General’s Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission.

What You Need To Know

  • Over $12 million for opioid addiction prevention, treatment and enforcement is going to 51 organizations

  • DV8 offers second chance employment to people in early stages of recovery 

  • $151,730 is going to DV8 and their mentorship program 

  • $55 million has been given out to organizations since the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission was founded

One recipient was Lexington’s DV8 (Deviate) Kitchen, which offers second chance employment opportunities for those in recovery. Owner Rob Perez opened DV8 Kitchen seven years ago. He and his wife opened it after being in the for-profit restaurant business for years.

“Literally we kept on losing people to the opioid addiction and in nine years my wife said enough we’ve got to do something about it,” Perz said.

Dv8 has two locations and offers second chance employment to those in the early stages of addiction recovery.

“I’m in awe of the people that normally wouldn’t have a job to come and work at DV8 and put out great food, great service and wonderful atmosphere and deliver it to a person who is skeptical whether or not they’re going to get a good meal, service at a place that employs people with a past,” Perez said.

Attorney General Russell Coleman, R-Ky., announced $12,029,053 million is going to 51 statewide organizations. $151,730 is going to DV8 to establish an employee success mentorship program.

DV8 will document and measure successes through the new program and hope to share it with other employers.

With the funds, Mindy Street will become the full-time manager of the DV8 program. She herself struggled with heroin addiction for 10 years, now she’s over 1,000 days sober.

“The only way that we can maintain sobriety is to share it with others and encourage others to do the same,” Street said.

Street got treatment at Chrysalis House; another grant recipient and started working at DV8 during her treatment. Now, she’s working toward a bachelor’s degree in social work.

“To people that are struggling, I would say recovery is possible. You are worth it and you deserve forgiveness and you can do it,” Street said.

Perez said seeing people unlock their potential is rewarding and humbling.

“And I feel blessed to be able to be working alongside so many talented and gifted people that only needed a chance, only needed a relationship to find their own path toward personal fulfillment,” Perez said.

$55 million has been given to organizations since the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission’s founding. Money comes from the over $900 million the state recovered in opioid settlements.

A full list of grant award winners can be found on the Attorney General’s website.

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