Opioid Treatment and MAT in Frankfort, KY

Frankfort has one advantage most Kentucky towns this size do not: a certified opioid treatment program inside the city limits. BHG Frankfort Treatment Center dispenses methadone and buprenorphine, and within 30 miles the federal locator lists 6 federally certified opioid treatment programs and 49 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine. Medication for opioid use disorder is the difference between a fatal overdose risk and a manageable one, and it is available here. This page explains what each medication does and how to get started.

What the Franklin County data show

KIPRC's county tables show fentanyl-involved overdose deaths in Franklin County falling from 18 in 2023 to 9 in 2024, a 50% decline. The 2025 Drug Overdose Fatality Report lists 16 drug overdose deaths in Franklin County in 2025, an age-adjusted rate of 31.1 per 100,000 - above the statewide rate. Statewide, 1,110 Kentuckians died of a drug overdose in 2025, a 22.9% decline from the year before.

The decline is real and worth noting, but it does not change what a person should do if they use opioids: get on medication and keep naloxone within reach. Fentanyl is potent enough that a single use after any break in tolerance carries a high risk of overdose.

Medication for opioid use disorder near Frankfort

Medication for opioid use disorder - also called MAT or MOUD - uses one of three FDA-approved medications alongside counseling. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

• Methadone is a full opioid agonist that relieves withdrawal and craving. It is dispensed only through certified opioid treatment programs, which is why having one in town matters.
• Buprenorphine is a partial agonist that reduces cravings and withdrawal and can be prescribed in a doctor's office, including by telehealth in many cases.
• Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors so opioids no longer produce a high. It can be started only after opioids have cleared the body.

Research consistently finds that people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or to overdose than those who go without medication. Staying on medication is not trading one dependence for another; it is treatment.

Within 30 miles of Frankfort, the SAMHSA locator lists:

• 60 treatment facilities total
• 6 federally certified opioid treatment programs, with 12 facilities offering some form of opioid treatment program service
• 49 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine and 50 that offer naltrexone
• 42 offering withdrawal management, 8 with residential programs, and 55 offering outpatient care

Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current options by phone.

Where to get help in Frankfort

• BHG Frankfort Treatment Center is the in-city opioid treatment program, dispensing methadone and buprenorphine.
• New Vista Franklin County Outpatient Clinic offers substance use and behavioral health care, and New Vista runs a 24-Hour Helpline at 1-800-928-8000.
• Spero Health, CommonHealth Recovery, and Infinity Center of Frankfort are additional outpatient options in the city.
• Kentucky's KY HELP Call Center (833-8KY-HELP) is open 24/7 to connect people to treatment, including same-day appointments.
• The SAMHSA locator can be searched from a Frankfort ZIP code and filtered by medication and payment option.

Naloxone and harm reduction in Frankfort

Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and cannot hurt someone who is not overdosing. The Franklin County Health Department at 100 Glenns Creek Road offers free naloxone training and kits and runs a syringe exchange Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Find Naloxone Kentucky lists additional free naloxone locations, and Kentucky pharmacies can dispense naloxone under a statewide standing order.

If someone is unresponsive, breathing slowly, or has pinpoint pupils, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. Kentucky's Good Samaritan law protects people who call for help during an overdose from certain drug-possession charges.

Paying for opioid treatment

Kentucky expanded Medicaid, so more adults with low incomes qualify than in non-expansion states. Kentucky Medicaid covers medication for opioid use disorder for eligible members. Most members get care through a managed care plan such as Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky, Passport Health Plan by Molina, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, or WellCare of Kentucky. Confirm coverage and prior authorization with your plan. If you are uninsured, the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 offers free, confidential referrals.

How to start today

1. If someone is overdosing, call 911 now and give naloxone. For a crisis, call or text 988.
2. Call or text (800) 653-9376 to speak with a treatment specialist, or use this form:

Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers, and we check your benefits before you commit.

3. Call BHG Frankfort Treatment Center or New Vista at 1-800-928-8000 and ask about starting methadone or buprenorphine.
4. Search findtreatment.gov with a Frankfort ZIP code and filter for medication-assisted treatment.

Opioid use disorder is a treatable medical condition. The medications that treat it are legal, effective, and available in Frankfort. The hardest part is usually the first call.

Emergency and crisis lines

If someone is unresponsive or struggling to breathe, call 911 first and give naloxone if you have it. For a mental health or substance use crisis that is not a medical emergency, call or text 988, or call New Vista's 24-Hour Helpline at 1-800-928-8000.

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any facility named above.

Frequently asked questions