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Oldham County approves opioid‑abatement travel and hears NET program update
Summary
The fiscal court approved up to $15,920 from opioid‑abatement funds to send county representatives and two health‑department staff to a Nashville summit and received an update on a NET (neuroelectric therapy) program; county staff reported early positive results from 3 participants and noted 25 treatments are available.
Oldham County Fiscal Court approved a committee recommendation on Nov. 18 to spend up to $15,920 from its opioid‑abatement account to send up to seven Oldham County representatives (including two health‑department employees) to the prescription and illicit‑drug summit in Nashville in April 2026.
Magistrate Jeffries told the court the opioid‑abatement committee reviewed eligible uses and recommended the travel as an approved expense. After discussion about whether the delegation should include elected officials or only employees, the court settled on language allowing "up to seven Oldham County representatives," counting the two health‑department staff in the total. The judge noted the registration deadline and a pending price increase.
Committee members also updated the court on a county NET (neuroelectric therapy) pilot that had previously been funded. Program staff reported three participants had completed the program since June 1 and that families have reported improvement. "I could tell you personally, three already have benefited from this program," Sergeant Rodriguez said. A speaker identified as the jailer described NET as neuroelectric therapy using small electrode pads behind the head or ears and noted the device received FDA approval in 2024. "It's non‑invasive," the jailer said; staff cautioned NET is one of multiple tools and that treatments such as Sublocade or medication‑assisted therapies may be appropriate for others.
Fiscal details discussed in the meeting: the treasurer reported an opioid‑abatement balance of $838,282 as of the morning of Nov. 18; the requested travel spending of $15,920 would come from that account. Staff also said the county has 25 NET treatments available and will prioritize uses that further reentry supports and education.
Why it matters: The county's opioid‑abatement funds derive from settlements and are governed by use restrictions; the committee emphasized education, reentry supports and evidence‑based treatment as priorities. The travel authorization is intended to increase local expertise and to inform future spending decisions.
What happens next: The county will register up to seven representatives for the April 6–9, 2026 conference in Nashville and staff said attendees should present a summary to the court after the summit. Committee members also signaled interest in pilot reentry programs and broader community‑education initiatives.
