A trend of declining drug overdose deaths doesn’t eliminate community spikes
Republished from WEKU.
The director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy says this summer marked the start of a new initiative aimed at reducing drug overdose deaths. Van Ingram said the effort to get the overdose-reversing drug naloxone into communities has grown with an EMS leave-behind program.
“Where naloxone will be on the ambulances across the state and they’re able to leave it behind when an overdose death occurs with a family member or friend,” said Ingram.
Kentucky has experienced a decline in overdose deaths the last two years, about a ten percent drop in 2023. With that said the Fayette Health Department is reporting a spike in cases. Officials in Lexington say there were 24 suspected non-fatal drug overdoses from September 17th through the 20th. The health department’s harm reduction program provides naloxone to anyone who needs it.
Dana Quisenberry is an assistant professor of public health at UK and principal investigator for overdose data to action. Like Ingram, she admits it’s not feasible to predict end-of-the-year figures. She said highest mortality in Kentucky is found in those 45 to 54.
“That somewhat distinguishes us from other jurisdictions in this country, other states in this country where they see far greater rates of mortality in younger age groups,” said Quisenberry.
An NPR report last week addressed declines in overdose deaths nationally, including a 30% drop in Ohio. Quisenberry said Ohio is a much larger state than Kentucky which saw a ten percent drop in 2023. The researcher suggests looking at an age-adjusted mortality rate.
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Originally published by WEKU.
Republished with permission.
