According to CDC National Center for Health Statistics data, overdose deaths in Kentucky have shot up since September 2019, reaching a high of nearly 54 Kentuckians dying from a drug overdose as of July 2022. According to a University of Kentucky report, Black citizens in this southern state were particularly hard hit by the problem, as overdose deaths jumped 117% among Kentucky’s Black population from 2016 through 2020. Per World Population Review, some 8% of Kentucky’s population was Black as of 2022. Also, according to provisional data from the CDC, though increasing, overdose deaths in Kentucky were not the worst among neighboring states as of February 2022, with a 26.36% increase over the prior year reflected in Alabama during that same time frame.
Also notable, Ohio was the only state bordering Kentucky to have a slight decrease in overdose deaths, according to those same numbers from the CDC. Also mirroring the trend nationwide, some three-quarters — or 73% — of drug overdose fatalities in Kentucky involved fentanyl, based on reporting from U.S. News & World Report. As the outlet also notes, many Kentuckians discontinued drug use treatment during the pandemic over safety. On the issue, Kentuck Governor Andy Beshear said in a press release (via U.S. News & World Report) “Every day we must work together to fund recovery programs and treatment options so that we can continue to address this scourge and get our people the help they need,” including the establishment of so-called “Recovery Ready Communities.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
