(WKYT) – Kentucky has seen a more than 50% decrease in overdose fatalities since 2021, according to officials with the Fayette County Health Department. On International Overdose Awareness Day, officials said events offering free naloxone are making a difference.
Kentucky recorded just over 1,100 overdose deaths in 2025, the lowest annual total in the state since 2014.
Jeanette Hart, health services and community engagement manager at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, said offering naloxone is comparable to other preventative measures.
“Just like we offer gun locks to gun owners, just like we offer condoms to those who are sexually active, offering these things is not going to make you tomorrow want to go do it,” Hart said.
Hart said easily accessible Narcan is key.
“What we like to do is saturate the city with a preventative measure. So we like to think that our boots on the ground effort is making a true difference here in our backyard,” Hart said.
Jordan Hardy, with the health department’s harm reduction program, demonstrated how to administer Narcan to someone suspected of overdosing.
“Place them on their back, tilt their head back, place this in the nostril. Once you do that, you’re going to simply press,” Hardy said.
Across town, the city’s substance use disorder program presented a screening of “Shuffle,” a documentary about addiction, treatment and the systems that can fail those seeking help.
Director Ben Flaherty said the film is meant to start a conversation.
“The idea is to have a conversation about it. This still is something that is not talked about enough, so at its heart this is an invitation to talk about it,” Flaherty said.
Both events featured free Narcan available to attendees. The health department said more than 360 kits have been provided since July, and it is considering additional locations for naloxone boxes in the community.
The health department also said it plans to host three similar events in September.