KY News - Fayette County Health Department raises alarm over drug overdoses

Fayette County Health Department raises alarm over drug overdoses

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is raising the alarm about the ongoing drug overdose crisis in Kentucky.

In 2024, the state recorded just over 1,400 drug-involved fatal overdoses. Officials say fentanyl—a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine—was involved in 62 percent of those deaths.

The crisis extends beyond fatalities. In 2023, Kentucky also saw more than 800 fentanyl-involved non-fatal hospital encounters.

Health experts emphasize the importance of naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and help prevent further loss of life.

Today, August 21, marks National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. For resources and assistance, officials encourage Kentuckians to visit FindHelpNowKY.org.

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Tags: fentanyl awareness, Kentucky overdoses, Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, naloxone use, National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, opioid crisis Kentucky

Source: Fayette County Health Department raises alarm over drug overdoses