Information Central
Drug Abuse
Kentucky had a large amount of retail prescription drugs per capita in 2019 (18.1 per person). While prescription medications offer valuable solutions for many serious maladies, they are widely abused as a recreational substance along with other illicit drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and meth.
Kentucky overdose fatalities increased in 2021. Out of the 2,250 overdose deaths that occurred in the state that year, 1,639 were caused by fentanyl, 309 by morphine, 503 by gabapentin, and 1,075 by methamphetamines. Drug abuse is a top priority for cities and the KLC legislative team will monitor any legislative activity pertaining to this issue.
