June 14, 2022
Opioid/Substance Use Disorders
  • A new report found that fatal drug overdoses rose nearly 15 percent in Kentucky last year, surpassing 2,000 deaths and setting a record death toll in the state. According to the report, released by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and the Office of Drug Control Policy, the highest number of drug overdose deaths in 2021 occurred among individuals aged 35-44. There were 672 deaths in that age group last year, up 17.5 percent from the prior year. State officials said that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the surge as many people felt isolated and discontinued their recovery efforts out of fear of contracting COVID-19. (Article here)