Opioid settlement money aims to battle addiction in rural Kentucky

By: Taylor Sisk, KFF Health News

Outlets: Kentucky Lantern

Published: June 19, 2026

Words: 1,464

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

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WHITESBURG, Ky. — Drugs and the consequences of addiction are woven into the fabric of Jamie Madden’s life.

Her earliest memory is of standing on the passenger seat of her dad’s car as a toddler, wearing a peach-colored blouse, while he drove from their Kentucky home to Florida to pick up drugs. On a stop for a burger, she met Ronald McDonald.

“I grew up with the impression that that’s how you paid your bills,” …

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