September is National Recovery Month, but now it's also recovery month in the state of Kentucky.

Governor Andy Beshear made the proclamation on Friday during the annual recovery rally.

Our Emily Sisk was there, and she reports that hundreds of supporters and survivors of substance abuse gathered in Frankfort for the event.

I'd like to officially present a proclamation recognizing September as recovery Month in the Commonwealth.

After three years of declining overdose deaths in the state of Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear said now is the time to provide even more support for those battling addiction and those in recovery.

Ten years of hard work.

Reducing the stigma.

Embracing people in recovery.

And look at where we are today.

This is really incredible.

Last year, the number of deadly overdoses dropped by 30%.

The state also distributed 170,000 doses of naloxone across the Commonwealth.

Naloxone is a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

We want to make sure to the best of our ability no one is lacking for that life saving drug.

When there's a need to help someone overcome an overdose of them.

If anybody says, how many times should you bring somebody back suffering from an overdose?

The answer is every single time.

Brandon Fitch, who organized Friday's event, said the rally continues to draw more and more support each year.

We're doing our job as an entire state to reduce stigma and to make it okay to say I'm a person in recovery.

Recovery is real.

Recovery happens every single day in Kentucky.

Recovery is very real.

For Will Waldon, who spoke about his experience battling drug addiction after going through more than a dozen treatment facilities and hospitalizations.

Walden said he had given up hope.

I had finally resigned to the fact that.

Dying of an overdose was was going to be the way I left my mark on this world.

But Walden sought treatment again in 2020 at Stable Recovery in Lexington.

He said this time things were different.

I don't really know how to explain it, but that's surrender.

It changed to Hope, which changed her strength.

It's changed to belief that my next relapse wasn't around the corner.

That I could actually do this thing.

Now, Walden is five years clean and works as a horse trainer.

One of his horses competed this year at the Kentucky Oaks.

Walden said he wouldn't be where he is today without hearing the stories of others in recovery.

There's no substitute for the impact that relativity makes when talking about combating this disease.

If I can't relate to you, I can't hear you.

In addition to the problems of Statewide Recovery Month, Governor Beshear also announced six new recovery care communities.

They're located in eastern Kentucky in Clay, Letcher, Owsley, Boyd, Carter, and Greenup counties.

The communities will expand recovery support to hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians, by the way.

Asking for help is never a weakness.

It's always a strength.

And we should embrace every single person who has that courage.

Governor Beshear said.

Currently, recovery communities are located in 31 of the Commonwealth's counties.

He hopes that soon that care will reach all 120 counties for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

Thank you Emily.

Organizers of the rally said although the state capitol will be closed for the next several years due to renovations, they plan to keep gathering.

To advocate for more recovery support.