What Operation UNITE does

Operation UNITE (legal name: Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education, Inc.) is a Kentucky-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on April 7, 2003, by U.S. Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-5th) in response to the Lexington Herald-Leader's "Prescription for Pain" investigative series on opioid-driven addiction and corruption in southern and eastern Kentucky. The organization operates a three-pronged model — Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment, and Education — delivering substance-abuse prevention programming, treatment referral and voucher assistance, and law enforcement support through a network of 43 community coalitions across 43 counties (expanded from 32 in 2025), with the KY HELP Statewide Call Center extending reach to all 120 Kentucky counties. Headquartered in London, KY, with regional offices in Prestonsburg (Big Sandy) and Somerset (Financial), UNITE employs program managers, area prevention coordinators, treatment directors, screening and referral specialists, and a law enforcement manager, and is governed by a board chaired by Commonwealth Attorney Jackie L. Steele Jr., JD.

The organization runs more than 30 programs across youth development (Camp UNITE, UNITE Clubs, Shoot Hoops Not Drugs, Day Camps, UNITE Service Corps AmeriCorps), classroom and community prevention education (One Pill Can Kill, Freedom over Fentanyl, Vaping Education, Wise Owl's Drug Safety, WISE, S.M.A.R.T., Botvin LifeSkills-aligned curricula), treatment services (Treatment Vouchers paying providers $25/day for 60 days following insurance, Recovery Housing Assistance, KY HELP Call Center, Treatment Referral Help Line, Casey's Law support, Angel Initiative), and law enforcement (Drug Tip Line, Medication Drop Boxes, DEA Take-Back Days, embedded detectives). Since inception it has enabled 6,006 individuals to enter long-term residential treatment at a 56.57% completion rate, served 16,476 youth through Shoot Hoops Not Drugs camps over 21 summers, and hosted 3,125 youth at Camp UNITE since 2007. UNITE also created the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in 2012, co-hosted with HMP Global, which drew 3,022 attendees from every U.S. state in 2025.

UNITE is funded primarily by an annual appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly, supplemented by federal and state grants (AmeriCorps, Drug-Free Communities Support Program, Rural Health Opioid Program), individual contributions, and corporate donations channeled through its Private-Sector Fund. It is the only Kentucky organization endorsed and trained by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to deliver the "One Pill Can Kill" curriculum and in 2026 received DEA's inaugural Fentanyl Free America Excellence in Support organization award. The organization does not develop proprietary technology platforms; its distribution is built on direct program delivery, a toll-free call center infrastructure, a registered brand (UNITE swirl logo), and an embedded coalition and coordinator network.

Name

Operation UNITE

Legal name

Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education, Inc.

Website

https://operationunite.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Operation UNITE is a Kentucky 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering substance-abuse prevention, treatment coordination, and law enforcement support through 43 community coalitions across 43 counties (plus a statewide call center serving all 120 Kentucky counties), serving youth, adults with substance use disorders, families, and law enforcement agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Prevention & Student Assistance Programs (School-Based) (EDAKAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

Keywords

• Substance abuse prevention
• Addiction treatment services
• Youth prevention programs
• Community anti-drug coalitions
• Opioid crisis response

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriations: Primary funding comes through an annual appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly, which funds core operations, programs, and staffing across the organization's service region.
2. Private Sector Fund (Donations): Individual contributions, corporate donations, and grants fund education/prevention initiatives, youth outreach programs, and treatment services. The organization maintains a Private-Sector Fund where 100% of donations are directed to specified initiatives.
3. Grants: Federal and state grants support specific programs including AmeriCorps (UNITE Service Corps), Drug-Free Communities Support Program, and Rural Health Opioid Program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Operation UNITE is a non-profit that delivers substance abuse prevention, treatment coordination, and law enforcement support programs to Kentucky communities. It runs youth prevention camps and clubs, classroom-based drug education, financial assistance for residential treatment (Treatment Vouchers), a statewide treatment referral call center (KY HELP), a drug tip line, and the annual Rx and Illicit Drug Summit. All direct services to youth, families, and individuals are provided free of charge, with primary funding from the Kentucky General Assembly.

Product overview

Operation UNITE is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of substance abuse prevention, treatment, and law enforcement programs across 43 Kentucky counties. The portfolio consists of youth development programs (Camp UNITE, UNITE Clubs, Shoot Hoops Not Drugs, Day Camps, UNITE Service Corps AmeriCorps), classroom and community-based prevention education (Vaping Education, One Pill Can Kill, Wise Owl's Drug Safety, WISE, S.M.A.R.T., Freedom over Fentanyl), treatment services (Treatment Vouchers, KY HELP Call Center, Treatment Referral Help Line, Recovery Housing), law enforcement initiatives (Drug Tip Line, Medication Drop Boxes, Task Force), and annual events (Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, Coalition Symposiums, Youth Rallies). These programs work together through a network of 43 community coalitions to provide a three-pronged approach to combating substance abuse: Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment, and Education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KY HELP Statewide Call Center: Toll-free statewide call center providing personalized assistance and resources for Kentuckians seeking help for substance use disorders
• Camp UNITE
• Rx and Illicit Drug Summit
• Treatment Voucher Program
• UNITE Service Corps
• UNITE Clubs
• Shoot Hoops Not Drugs

Products and services

• Camp UNITE Free, week-long leadership/adventure camp for middle school-aged youth (grades 6-8) featuring activity tracks, motivational speakers, swimming, community service projects, and talent shows. Hosted at University of the Cumberlands.
• UNITE Service Corps (AmeriCorps) Nationally-recognized AmeriCorps program providing math tutoring, drug prevention education, and wellness curricula to elementary school students in Kentucky.
• UNITE Clubs
• Shoot Hoops Not Drugs
• Day Camps
• Treatment Vouchers Financial assistance provided to low-income residents in the 43-county UNITE service area for residential treatment of substance use disorder. UNITE pays treatment providers $25/day for 60 days following 30 days of insurance, or $100/day for up to 30 days for clients without Medicaid.
• KY HELP Statewide Call Center Toll-free statewide call center (1-833-859-4357) providing personalized, compassionate assistance and resources for Kentuckians seeking help for a substance use disorder. Staffed by UNITE on behalf of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy; serves all 120 Kentucky counties.
• Treatment Referral Help Line
• Rx and Illicit Drug Summit Annual national conference co-hosted with HMP Global, drawing 3,000+ attendees from all 50 states. Features six educational tracks (advocacy, clinical, illicit drugs, prevention, public safety, recovery support) covering the opioid and addiction crisis.
• UNITE Community Coalitions
• Drug Tip Line
• "I Am UNITE" Scholarships

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,006 individuals enabled to enter long-term treatment since 2005, with 56.57% treatment completion rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• HMP GlobalflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2012HMP Global is the co-host of the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, which UNITE created in 2012. HMP Global manages event operations, registration, and venue coordination while UNITE serves as Educational Advisor. The Summit is the largest collaboration of professionals addressing the opioid and addiction crisis.
• Kentucky Office of Drug Control PolicyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerODCP is the government agency that created and funds the KY HELP Statewide Call Center, which UNITE staffs and operates. The call center connects Kentuckians with substance use disorder treatment resources. UNITE operates as a bona fide agent of ODCP.
• Kentucky Justice and Public Safety CabinetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cabinet provides funding for the KY HELP Statewide Call Center and partners with UNITE on statewide substance abuse intervention initiatives.
• Kentucky State PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSP partners with UNITE through the Angel Initiative, which enables individuals seeking addiction treatment to visit any KSP post and receive assistance with treatment placement. UNITE's Captain Jennifer Sandlin represents KSP on the UNITE Board of Directors. UNITE also worked with KSP to pilot the first Angel Initiative program at Post 9 in Pikeville in 2017.
• StoryCorpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring the 5th Annual National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit in 2016, UNITE contracted with StoryCorps to compile stories related to the opioid epidemic. Interviews are archived in the Library of Congress American Folklife Center.
• Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIPRC provides FindHelpNowKY.org, a near-real-time substance use disorder treatment availability locator for Kentucky, and FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org. UNITE is a partner in these initiatives alongside Kentucky Recovery Housing Network and the Fletcher Group.
• Never Alone Nick Rucker FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation was noted as a grassroots partner working with UNITE and DEA to strengthen the community safety net and provide a unified front against the fentanyl epidemic.
• Kentucky Educational Television (KET)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKET provides ongoing media coverage including documentaries on opioid addiction, Rx Summit recaps, and interviews with UNITE leadership and federal officials. KET's 'Inside Opioid Addiction' initiative includes coverage of UNITE programs.
• AmeriCorps (UNITE Service Corps)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNITE Service Corps is a nationally-recognized AmeriCorps program providing math tutoring, drug prevention education, and wellness curricula to elementary school students. Part of the Kentucky AmeriCorps network.
• Kentucky High School Athletic AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHSAA partners with UNITE for Esports Championships and collaborative prevention initiatives. Commissioner Julian Tackett has highlighted the value of the partnership.
• U.S. Drug Enforcement AdministrationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNITE is the only Kentucky organization endorsed and trained by DEA to present the 'One Pill Can Kill' educational program. DEA collaborated with UNITE on Fentanyl Free America Summit in 2026 and ongoing prevention initiatives. UNITE received DEA's Excellence in Support organization award.
• University of the CumberlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of the Cumberlands hosts Camp UNITE annually, providing campus facilities for the free week-long residential camp program. Partnership has continued for over 15 years.
• CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerUNITE participates in CADCA's Annual Mid-Year Training Institute. The 2026 Fentanyl Free America Summit was held in conjunction with CADCA's 25th Annual Mid-Year Training Institute.
• Focus on the FamilyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFocus on the Family partnered with UNITE to launch the 'Declare Hope' initiative in southern and eastern Kentucky, including regional family strengthening summits.
• Kentucky Office of Specialty CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElizabeth Nichols, Manager of the Division of Operations for Kentucky Department of Specialty Courts, represents Specialty Courts (Drug Courts, Veteran Treatment Courts, DUI Courts, Mental Health Courts) on the UNITE Board of Directors.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA): CADCA is the national umbrella for community anti-drug coalitions, operating the Annual Mid-Year Training Institute where UNITE co-located the 2026 Fentanyl Free America Summit. Both organizations fund and train local coalitions to implement substance abuse prevention at the community level, with comparable training, advocacy, and federal-grant intermediation models.
• Partnership to End Addiction: Partnership to End Addiction (formerly Partnership for Drug-Free Kids) is a national nonprofit focused on substance abuse prevention among youth and families through education, parent support, and media campaigns. It mirrors UNITE's youth-drug-prevention orientation, school-based programming, and family/caregiver resources.
• Faces & Voices of Recovery: Faces & Voices of Recovery is a national recovery advocacy organization mobilizing people in recovery, families, and allies, paralleling UNITE's Hope Wall, Stories of Hope, and recovery-housing assistance functions. Both organizations emphasize recovery-community voice and lived experience as core assets.
• Shatterproof: Shatterproof is a national nonprofit tackling the addiction crisis through prevention, treatment access, and recovery support, with strong policy advocacy and a national summit analogous to UNITE's Rx Summit. Both organizations pursue a multi-pronged systems-change approach to addiction rather than direct clinical service delivery.
• Drug Free America Foundation: Drug Free America Foundation is a drug-prevention nonprofit focused on policy advocacy, international drug policy, and prevention education. It overlaps with UNITE on the prevention-education pillar and on advocating for a comprehensive response to illicit drug use.

Broad incumbents

• Caron Treatment Centers: Caron operates a national addiction treatment network including residential programs, prevention education, and the Caron Student Assistance Program for schools. UNITE's Treatment Voucher Program pays residential providers like Caron's peers, and Caron's school-based prevention curricula overlap with UNITE's youth programs.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Hazelden Betty Ford is one of the largest addiction treatment and recovery organizations in the U.S., operating treatment centers plus education and research arms. UNITE funds and refers into long-term residential treatment at the kind of facilities Hazelden operates, making Hazelden both a downstream treatment provider and a broader incumbent in the same substance-use-response space.
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD): NCADD (now operating under the Faces & Voices of Recovery family) has historically provided nationwide prevention education, referral, and advocacy services. It serves as a long-standing broader-incumbent counterpart to UNITE's substance abuse prevention and referral mission.

Emerging players

• Young People in Recovery: Young People in Recovery focuses on young adults in recovery through peer-driven support, advocacy, and chapter-based community building, overlapping with UNITE's youth-prevention orientation but emphasizing the post-treatment recovery journey. Both build youth-led recovery infrastructure.

Regional players

• Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP): ODCP is the Kentucky state agency that created and funds the KY HELP Statewide Call Center which UNITE staffs as a bona fide agent. It is a state-government counterpart with overlapping prevention, treatment-coordination, and overdose-surveillance responsibilities for the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uniteky
• YouTubeyoutube.com/uniteky
• Facebookfacebook.com/OpUNITEKy
• Instagraminstagram.com/operation_unite
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/operation-unite

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Operation UNITE