# Kentucky records 4th consecutive year of overdose death decline  
**Published:** 2026-05-04T19:54:45.000Z  
**Source:** [Kentucky Health News](https://kyhealthnews.net/2026/05/04/kentucky-sees-4th-consecutive-year-of-decline-in-overdose-deaths/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/kentucky-records-4th-consecutive-year-of-overdose-death-decline

Kentucky recorded its fourth consecutive year of declining overdose deaths in 2025, with a 22.9% decrease compared with the previous year, according to the [2025 Drug Overdose Fatality Report](https://kyhealthnews.net/2026/05/04/kentucky-sees-4th-consecutive-year-of-decline-in-overdose-deaths/) released Thursday by Gov. Andy Beshear's office.

The state recorded 1,110 overdose deaths last year — the lowest number since 2014 — marking a 50.8% decline from 2021, when Kentucky experienced the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded. The 22.9% decrease represents the second-largest single-year drop since the state began reporting overdose fatalities in 2012.

Beshear credited grants from the Office of Drug Control Policy and the nearly 183,000 doses of Narcan distributed across the state last year for the continued progress. [Fentanyl was present in 45.4% of deaths in 2025, down from 62.3% in 2024](https://www.wtvq.com/beshear-ky-sees-4th-straight-year-of-decline-in-overdose-deaths-with-22-9-drop-in-2025/), while methamphetamine was identified in 549 overdose deaths, a nearly 24% decline from 2024.

The report shows methamphetamine and fentanyl remained the top contributors to overdose deaths, present in approximately 50% and 45% of all deaths respectively. Toxicology results also showed the presence of cocaine, acetylfentanyl, oxycodone, heroin and alprazolam in deaths. In 2025, most people who died from overdoses were between ages 45-54, followed by those 35-44 and 55-64.

Among Black Kentuckians, 129 deaths in 2025 were attributed to drug overdose — a 25.4% decrease compared with the prior year and the second straight annual decline among that demographic. [Jefferson County had the highest rate of fentanyl-related deaths, followed by Fayette and Kenton Counties](https://www.wtvq.com/beshear-ky-sees-4th-straight-year-of-decline-in-overdose-deaths-with-22-9-drop-in-2025/).

Office of Drug Control Policy Executive Director Van Ingram said the progress reflects a statewide collaborative effort. Despite the milestone, Kentucky still grapples with elevated rates of substance use disorder and overdose compared to national averages. The governor said additional efforts in 2025 included more than $29 million distributed in grant funding from the Office of Drug Control Policy.

For resources, visit [FindHelpNow.org/ky](https://findhelpnow.org/ky). Those facing addiction can call 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357) or text 988 for mental health crises.

## Sources

- [Kentucky Health News](https://kyhealthnews.net/2026/05/04/kentucky-sees-4th-consecutive-year-of-decline-in-overdose-deaths/)
- [WTVQ coverage of 2025 report showing fentanyl and county-level data](https://www.wtvq.com/beshear-ky-sees-4th-straight-year-of-decline-in-overdose-deaths-with-22-9-drop-in-2025/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Kentucky Health News, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://kyhealthnews.net/2026/05/04/kentucky-sees-4th-consecutive-year-of-decline-in-overdose-deaths/.