Kentucky River Regional Prevention Center

11/09/2025

💙 November is Diabetes Awareness Month 💙

Diabetes affects millions of Americans — but with awareness, education, and support, we can take steps toward healthier futures.

💉 Know the signs: increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds.
🥗 Take small steps: choose balanced meals, stay active, and keep up with regular checkups.
🩺 Talk to your healthcare provider about getting your blood sugar checked — early detection and management make a huge difference.

Together, we can raise awareness, support those living with diabetes, and encourage healthy lifestyles for all.

11/08/2025

💊 Safe Medication Disposal — Protect Your Home, Protect Your Community 💙

Did you know? Unused or expired medications should never be thrown in the trash or flushed.
Proper disposal helps prevent misuse and keeps our waterways clean. 🌎

✅ Use a local disposal site or drop box — many are located at pharmacies, police departments, and health centers across Kentucky.
✅ Remove personal information from prescription labels before disposal.
✅ Spread the word — safe disposal keeps families and communities healthier.

Find a disposal location near you: www.dea.gov/takebackday
or visit your local health department for more information.

11/07/2025

🎗️ National Cancer Awareness Day — Early Detection Saves Lives 💜

Today we stand together to raise awareness, encourage screening, and support those affected by cancer.

💡 Did you know? Many cancers can be treated more effectively when found early. Regular checkups, healthy habits, and knowing your family history can make a life-saving difference.

💬 Talk to your healthcare provider about screenings that are right for you — like mammograms, colonoscopies, and skin checks.
💪 Let’s also uplift survivors, honor loved ones we’ve lost, and remind one another that no one fights alone.

11/06/2025

11/05/2025

💙 Today is Stress Awareness Day 💙

Stress is something we all experience — but it doesn’t have to control our lives. Taking time to pause, breathe, and care for your mind and body can make all the difference.

🌿 Try a short walk or stretch break.
☕ Take a few minutes to unplug and breathe deeply.
💬 Reach out — talking about stress helps lighten the load.

Remember: It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to ask for help.
You can’t pour from an empty cup — take care of you today. 💫

11/04/2025

🗳️ Election Day — Your Voice Matters!

Today’s the day to make your voice heard. Every vote is a chance to shape the future — your community, your schools, your country.

✅ Show up.
✅ Speak out.
✅ Be counted.

Let’s celebrate democracy together by participating with respect, integrity, and hope. 💙

11/03/2025

If you are expecting or have a new baby under one year of age make plans to join us on November 13th from 2-4 at Happy Top in Beattyvillee for a Community Baby Shower! Door Prizes, Community Resources, Free Baby Items & Refreshments!

11/03/2025

🚭 Thinking About Va**ng While Pregnant? Let’s Talk About It.

Many people believe va**ng is a safer alternative to smoking — but the truth is, v**es still contain ni****ne and other harmful chemicals that can affect your baby’s development.

💔 Ni****ne restricts oxygen and nutrients your baby needs.
🧠 It can harm your baby’s brain and lung development.
⚠️ Some v**e liquids contain heavy metals and toxic substances that can cross the placenta.

If you’re pregnant and struggling to quit, you’re not alone — help and support are available. Talk to your healthcare provider or call the KY Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free resources and guidance.

Protect your baby’s first breaths by making this one: Smoke-free. Vape-free. Healthy. 💕

11/02/2025

🕯️ All Souls’ Day — A Time of Remembrance 🕯️

Today, we pause to honor and remember all the souls who have gone before us — our loved ones, friends, and ancestors who live on in our hearts and memories. 💜

All Souls’ Day reminds us that love transcends time and distance. Whether through prayer, quiet reflection, or a simple moment of gratitude, we keep their light alive by remembering them.

🕊️ “Those we love and lose are always connected by heartstrings into infinity.”

11/01/2025

💙 November is National Homelessness Awareness Month 💙
🏠 and National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

Every night, more than 4,000 youth in Kentucky and over 4 million nationwide experience some form of homelessness. Many are fleeing unsafe homes, aging out of foster care, or simply trying to survive without a safety net.

No one — especially a child — should have to face life without stability, warmth, or hope. 💔

✨ This month, let’s stand together:
💙 Learn the facts about homelessness in your community.
🤝 Support local shelters, youth outreach programs, and housing initiatives.
📣 Use your voice to raise awareness — because visibility creates change.

Everyone deserves a place to call home. Let’s be part of the solution. 🏠💫

10/31/2025

🎃🕸️ Happy Halloween, Kentucky River Region! 👻🕯️

Wishing everyone a safe, spooky, and fun-filled night! Whether you’re trick-or-treating with the kids, handing out candy, or watching your favorite scary movie — remember to stay alert, be kind, and look out for one another. 💜

🍬 Halloween by the numbers:
🎃 Americans are expected to spend $13.1 billion on Halloween this year.
🍭 More than $3.5 billion will go toward candy alone (that’s a lot of chocolate!).
🧙‍♀️ Around 72% of people plan to celebrate — proving that Halloween spirit is alive and well!

Stay safe, have fun, and don’t forget — the best kind of magic is the kind we share. ✨

10/30/2025

📊 Key Statistics & Findings for Kentucky
KY-Moms MATR Program Outcomes

KY-Moms MATR (Maternal Assistance Toward Recovery) works with high-risk pregnant and parenting women in Kentucky, offering substance use treatment, mental health services, and case management.

In their 2022 outcome report, KY-Moms MATR evaluated women who gave birth between December 2018 and December 2019, comparing baseline and postnatal outcomes.

The 2023 annual report continues to track these women.

Maternal Mortality & Substance Use

In Kentucky, 54% of maternal deaths in a recent cohort were linked to substance use disorder.

Most maternal deaths (about 89%) were determined to be preventable.

NAS refers to newborn withdrawal symptoms when exposed prenatally to opioids or other substances.

In Kentucky, the rate of NAS increased sharply over time:
• In 2009, Kentucky’s rate was ~6.6 per 1,000 live births.

• By 2013, it was ~15.1 per 1,000 births.

• In the fourth quarter of 2014, it peaked at ~23.4 per 1,000 births.

Kentucky’s NAS rate has been more than double the national average in many years.

Smoking during pregnancy is strongly associated with infants who develop NAS — in cases of babies with NAS, ~56% of mothers smoked during pregnancy.
Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Substance Use & Behavioral Patterns

According to national data (not specific to KY), about 5% of pregnant women use one or more addictive substances (to***co, illicit drugs, prescription misuse).

In Kentucky, the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy remains high and is frequently cited in state maternal health reporting.

Alcohol use (including binge drinking) among women of childbearing age in Kentucky is also nontrivial: in 2022, ~13.7% of women aged 18–44 reported binge drinking in the prior month.

In a study of pregnant women with opioid use disorder in Kentucky (2017–2020), both rural and urban participants had complex challenges: mental health comorbidities, legal issues, and substance-use histories.

⚠️ Key Challenges & Considerations

Geographic & access disparities
Rural and Appalachian parts of Kentucky have been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic, and women in these areas often face longer distances to treatment facilities.

Overlap with other risk factors
Many pregnant women dealing with substance use also experience mental health challenges, partner violence, economic instability, and stigma. This intersectionality complicates care.

Impact on infant health and outcomes
Babies exposed to substances in utero may experience low birth weight, premature birth, developmental delays, or withdrawal symptoms (NAS) after delivery.

Reporting & detection limitations
Not all substance exposures are diagnosed or reported — only infants with clear withdrawal symptoms (NAS) are required to be reported under Kentucky law.

Prevention & early intervention gap
Many women may not access treatment until later in pregnancy or postpartum, making early screening and support crucial. Programs like KY-Moms MATR aim to engage women prenatally, but are not yet universal.