Overdose deaths declined by 5% last year, the first decline since 2018
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 20, 2023) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentucky’s drug overdose deaths declined in 2022 by 5% compared with 2021, marking the first decline since 2018.
According to the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC), 2,127 Kentuckians died from a drug overdose in 2022 compared with 2,257 in 2021.
“While we find hope in the decline in drug overdose deaths, this remains a public health crisis that we must continue to work together to address,” said Gov. Beshear. “We have done a lot of work to help Kentuckians fight addiction, but there is more to do and more lives to save. And I promise to be there every step of the way.”
On March 24, the Governor signed two pieces of legislation to support ongoing efforts to help Kentuckians fighting addiction. At that time, Gov. Beshear said, “I am proud that Kentucky has been leading the way in providing treatment services to Kentuckians through the state’s Treatment Access Program, which allows those without health insurance to enter residential treatment, and we have increased the number of treatment beds by 50% during my administration.”
Dana Quesinberry, co-principal investigator for surveillance of the Kentucky Drug Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program at KIPRC, joined the Governor for today’s announcement.
“I am glad to have good news to share today. Drug overdose deaths in Kentucky have been on the rise for the last four years, with a spike at the start of the world-wide pandemic,” said Quesinberry. “The numbers from 2022 show that prevention efforts are working, and we share this news today to continue to inform prevention interventions as we work together across state and local government to address this public health crisis and save lives.”
KIPRC has been tracking drug overdose-related deaths since 2011. The Office of Drug Control Policy, in partnership with KIPRC, will be releasing the 2022 Kentucky Drug Overdose Report in the coming months. The report will include additional data on the number of drug overdose deaths by county and various demographics.
Fighting the Epidemic
Through partnerships across state government, including with the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Beshear administration is diligently working to provide wider and easier access to recovery, to reduce addiction and to prevent reincarceration to offenders. These programs will help continue the fight against the drug epidemic in the commonwealth while providing help for those who need it.