Attorney General-Elect Russell Coleman announces new Opioid Abatement Commission director, deputy director

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2023) – Kentucky Attorney General-Elect Russell Coleman announced the appointment of senior leaders today who will bring unparalleled experience to protecting Kentuckians from violent crime, deadly drugs and government overreach. At a press conference in Frankfort, Coleman introduced several members of his team and discussed their impressive qualifications at the highest level of state and federal law enforcement.

Appointees include:

Former Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Christopher Evans will become the new Executive Director of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. Evans led the world’s premier drug enforcement organization, overseeing a $3 billion-plus operational budget and more than 9,000 personnel around the globe. Beginning his career as a street agent, he served in various DEA leadership roles, including as the first Special Agent in Charge of the newly created Louisville Field Division in which he partnered with then-U.S. Attorney Coleman to open a needed DEA Office in Paducah to serve the Purchase Region of Kentucky. Evans presently serves on the Board of Directors of both the Christopher 2X Game Changers organization in Louisville and the Kentucky State Police Foundation. He joins the Kentucky Attorney General’s office to lead the Commission in the effective distribution of Kentucky’s share of opioid settlement funds as directed by the General Assembly.

Read the full press release here.