At Voices of Hope in Lexington, recovery coaches use lived experience to guide others after overdose

Recovery coaches at Voices of Hope in Lexington are drawing on their own experiences with addiction to help other people seek stability and treatment, according to a report by LEX18 published Aug. 26, 2026.

The program described by LEX18 centers on peer recovery coaching, with coaches working to encourage people who are struggling with substance use to stay engaged with support services and avoid isolation during a period when overdose risk remains a concern for families across the Commonwealth.

Kentucky, the LEX18 report notes, recorded more than 1,000 overdose deaths in 2025. The state’s 2025 Drug Overdose Fatality Report cited in the story also shows the total was a nearly 23% decline compared with the prior year, indicating some progress while underscoring that the public safety challenge remains serious and ongoing.

In Lexington, Voices of Hope coaches are presented as part of the community response to that toll, using face-to-face guidance and lived-experience credibility to meet people where they are and connect them to help. The article frames the coaching work as practical support, aimed at turning personal recovery efforts into assistance for others navigating similar circumstances.

LEX18’s reporting focuses on the personal pathway from addiction to recovery and then to service, describing how coaches aim to reduce barriers that can derail recovery efforts, such as distrust of systems, lack of consistent support, and uncertainty about where to go for help.

While the story highlights positive outcomes, it also situates the coaching model within Kentucky’s broader overdose data, reminding readers that statewide prevention and response efforts depend on both public systems and community-based organizations continuing to operate between crises rather than only after emergencies.

The LEX18 report does not set out specific performance metrics for Voices of Hope in the packet provided, but it portrays recovery coaching as a sustained community practice, with coaches continuing their work in Lexington as Kentucky reviews overdose trends reflected in its annual fatality reporting.

For residents seeking help, the practical next step in this kind of work typically involves connecting with local recovery organizations and treatment resources, an approach consistent with how peer recovery programs are described in the LEX18 report and with the continuing scale of overdose mortality shown in Kentucky’s 2025 fatality figures.