State: OD Deaths Spike, With Fentanyl, Meth Taking Toll

FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy says fatal overdose deaths spiked across the commonwealth in 2017, with lethal fentanyl figuring into more than half of the fatalities.According to a report released by the office Wednesday, 1,565 people died of fatal overdoses across Kentucky in 2017. Of those, fentanyl factored into 763 of the deaths.“The gravity of today’s report by KY ODCP underscores just how much is at stake in the ongoing battle against the nation’s opioid epidemic,” Gov. Matt Bevin said in a statement. “This is a fight we must win for the sake of our families, our communities, and the Commonwealth as a whole.” Both numbers are remarkable increases from the year before. The total deaths in 2017 rising 11.5 percent and those involving fentanyl by about 5 percent from 2016’s tally.Fatal heroin overdoses actually ticked down, accounting for about 22 percent of the deaths down from 34 percent in 2016.However, other drugs continued to take a toll: Alprazolam figured in about 36 percent of cases in 2016; gabapentin in 31 percent; and methamphetamine in 29 percent.The meth deaths alone doubled from a year ago, according to the 2017 Overdose Fatality Report.Among other significant findings in today’s report:• The top five counties for overdose deaths, per capita, were:1) Kenton County – 69.502) Campbell County – 66.003) Boyd County – 64.604) Mason County – 58.205) Jessamine County- 56.50• The top five counties for heroin-related overdose deaths were:1) Jefferson County – 1352) Fayette County – 423) Campbell County – 184) Kenton County – 165) Boone County – 11• The top five counties for fentanyl-related deaths were:1) Jefferson County – 2742) Fayette County – 1123) Kenton County – 524) Campbell County – 415) Boone County – 29• The top five counties for deaths related to heroin and fentanyl in combination were:1) Jefferson County – 942) Fayette County – 333) Kenton County – 154) Campbell County – 135) Boone County – 8You can read the full report below: