FRANKFORT, Kiev (AP) – Fatal overdoses in Kentucky rose nearly 15% last year to more than 2,000, as increasing use of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, led to a record number of deaths in the state, according to the report. Monday.
The report found that 2,250 people in Kentucky died from drug overdoses in 2021, an ongoing disaster that has plagued rural towns and the state’s largest city. This is the first time the state of Blugras has surpassed 2,000 overdose drug deaths a year, said Van Ingram, executive director of the state’s Bureau of Drug Control Policy.
Reflects rising state mortality An overdose epidemic in the country. Last year, for the first time, more than 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 12 months, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about two-thirds of those killed were linked to fentanyl and others. synthetic drugs.
A report in Kentucky on Monday said fentanyl was seen in Kentucky in nearly 73 percent of overdose deaths last year.
“We haven’t seen a drug prevalent in toxicology overdose reports,” Ingram said in a telephone interview.
Overdose death is often associated with more than one drug. Some people take different medications, and fentanyl is increasingly ingested with other medications, often without consumers knowing, officials said.
“I spoke to the director of the Drug Task Force last week, who said,‘ We found fentanyl in everything, ’” Ingram said.
U.S. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, who has spent years raising federal funds to fight drug addiction in his hometown of Kentucky, said in a recent column that fentanyl has “flooded “the southern border of the country.
“Community law enforcement leaders tell me that to stop overdose deaths, our number one priority should be to smuggle fentanyl into our country through Mexico,” McConnell said.
State officials also cited the presence of strong and cheap methamphetamine as the latest cause of death from drug overdose in Kentucky.
The report says that in 2021, the highest number of drug overdose deaths were recorded among Kentucky people between the ages of 35 and 44. 672 people in this age group died last year, 17.5 % more than last year.
The fatal overdose report was released by the Kentucky Office of Justice and Public Safety and the Office of Drug Control Policy.
Kentucky has long suffered from a high rate of dependence on opioid analgesics.
In 2020, more than 1,960 people in Kentucky died from overdose, nearly 50% higher than the pre-pandemic death rate in 2019, which was 1316. Many people stopped drug treatment for fear of becoming infected with COVID. -19. This, along with the feeling of isolation caused by the virus, helped increase overdose mortality in 2020, state officials said at the time.
Today, treatment and recovery programs are still growing throughout Kentucky.
“We must work together every day to fund recovery programs and treatment options to continue to address this tragedy and provide the help our people need,” Governor Andy Beshiar said at a news conference on Monday. .
The governor said the overdose death toll was “devastating and extremely heartbreaking”.
Prior to Monday’s report, Beshaar announced another step toward meeting the state’s policy goal of offering free near-home services to help Kentucky residents cope with drug addiction.
The state is working to create cities and counties as “recovery -ready communities” – with the goal of providing high -quality restoration programs throughout Kentucky, the Beshir administration said.
“In this country, the drug epidemic can be solved in one community,” Ingram said Monday while advertising the program.
The Kentucky Drug Control Policy Office is working with U.S. volunteers to launch the Recovery Ready Community Certification Program. Cities and towns can apply for certification by offering free transportation, support groups, and employment services for people seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. An event approved by lawmakers in Kentucky last year created an advisory committee with responsibility for creating a ready-made restoration certificate.
Adam Bowling, the event’s primary co-sponsor at Kentucky State, said Monday that the program will “allow cities and counties to provide a lifeline to help Kentucky residents build living no addiction. “
“Don’t be confused, substance abuse is a deadly and dangerous disease that can be successfully prevented and treated,” Bowling said in a statement. “However, those faced with this problem should have community support and access to care and resources, regardless of where they live or how much money they have in their bank account.”
People can call the KY Helpline at 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357) to speak face to face with a specialist who can contact you for treatment in Kentucky.
Source: Huffpost
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.