Overdose deaths in Kentucky have decreased for three consecutive years with a 30.2 percent decrease in 2024 compared with the previous years, according to statistics in the Kentucky 2024 Drug Overdose Fatality Report, which was released May 1.
A News Journal review of the 2024 Drug Overdose Fatality Report also showed significant drops in overdose deaths in both Whitley and Laurel counties compared to the prior year.
A total of 1,410 Kentuckians lost their lives in 2024 to a drug overdose compared to 1,984 people in 2023, 2,135 people in 2022 and 2,250 people in 2021, according to reviews of the drug overdose fatality reports for those years.
Fentanyl was present in 62.3 percent of overdose deaths, and methamphetamine was present in 50.8 percent of overdose deaths in 2024. 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, according to a release from the governor’s office.
“I am thankful that more Kentuckians are alive and in recovery today compared with last year,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “But we still mourn and grieve our 1,410 Kentuckians who lost their life last year to addiction and the many more who we lost before that. Every life lost is a child of God, and someone’s mom, dad, son, daughter and loved one. We won’t stop until every Kentuckian is saved from addiction.”
In 2023, Kentucky reported a 9.8 percent decrease compared with 2022. In 2022, there was a decrease of 2.5 percent from 2021, marking the first year Kentucky saw a decrease in overdose deaths since 2018, according to the release.
Many local counties have also seen a drop in overdose death rates. (The drug overdose fatality reports don’t release the actual number of overdose deaths in a county if there were few than five deaths.)
Whitley County reported 13 overdose deaths in 2024 compared to 19 deaths in 2023, 32 deaths in 2022 and 16 deaths in 2021.
Laurel County reported 15 overdose deaths in 2024 compared to 33 deaths in 2023, 23 deaths in 2022 and 16 deaths in 2021.
Knox County reported 5 overdose deaths in 2024 compared to less than 5 deaths in 2023, 7 deaths in 2022 and 17 deaths in 2021.
Bell County reported 11 overdose deaths in 2024 compared to 12 deaths in 2023, 10 deaths in 2022 and 15 deaths in 2021.
McCreary County reported less than 5 overdose deaths in 2024 and 2023 compared to 7 deaths in 2022 and 6 deaths in 2021.
“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,” said Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy Executive Director Van Ingram.
The 2024 Kentucky Overdose Fatality Report is compiled by the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center using data from the Office of Vital Statistics, the Office of the State Medical Examiner and Kentucky’s coroners. These numbers are subject to change.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report includes both the deaths of Kentucky residents and nonresidents in their reporting. Kentucky’s overdose report includes only the deaths of Kentucky residents, which has been the standard since the Kentucky General Assembly first required this annual report. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy includes resident deaths only to better target harm reduction and prevention activities for Kentuckians.
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 all across the commonwealth 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.
