Overdose deaths in Kentucky have now dropped for the third year in a row, highlighted by a rather significant 30.2 percent decrease in 2024 compared with the previous year.
In 2023, Kentucky reported a 9.8 percent decrease compared with 2022. In 2022, there was a drop of 2.5 percent from 2021, marking the first year Kentucky saw a decrease in overdose deaths since 2018.
Among Black Kentucky residents who had not previously seen a decrease, 170 died from a drug overdose, a decrease from 271 in 2023, marking a 37.3 percent drop. According to the 2024 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report, a total of 1,410 Kentuckians lost their lives last year to a drug overdose.
According to the report, fentanyl was present in 62.3 percent of overdose deaths, and methamphetamine was present in 50.8 percent of overdose deaths. The two continue to be the most prevalent drugs contributing to overdose deaths in the state. The report also indicates that most Kentucky age groups saw a decrease in overdose deaths, with the only increase being among those ages 75-84.
“Today’s announcement is made possible by every state agency, local community, health department, addiction treatment program and advocate who has put politics aside and fought for our Kentuckians to obtain recovery,” said Office of Drug Control Policy Executive Director Van Ingram. “Thank you for moving Kentucky forward and doing this good work. If you are a family member of one of the Kentuckians who lost their lives to an overdose last year, we are praying for you and will continue this work in your loved one’s honor.”
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, the KY HELP Call Center can connect you to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357).
Information about treatment programs across the state is available at FindHelpNowKy.org. Information on how to obtain the life-saving drug naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, can be found at that website as well as at FindNaloxoneNowKy.org and FindMentalHealthNowKy.org.
