Addiction in Kentucky
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Byrnes, H. (2020, August 19). Alcohol abuse: What city in each state has the most adults who drink excessively? USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/08/19/the-drunkest-city-in-every-state/42214051/
Commonwealth of Kentucky 2019 Crime Report. Kentucky State Police. Retrieved 8/31/21, from http://kentuckystatepolice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2019CrimeinKentucky.pdf
Kentucky Alcohol Statutes and Regulations. Kentucky League of Cities; Kentucky League of Cities. https://www.klc.org/userfiles/KY_Alcohol_Statutes_and_Regulations20191120164246.pdf
Kentucky Corrections Policies and Procedures. Ky.Gov. Retrieved 8/28/21, from https://corrections.ky.gov/About/cpp/Documents/27/CPP%2027-13-01.pdf
NIDA. 2020, April 3. Kentucky: Opioid-Involved Deaths and Related Harms. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/kentucky-opioid-involved-deaths-related-harms on 2021, August 30
Slavova S, Quesinberry D, Hargrove S, et al. Trends in Drug Overdose Mortality Rates in Kentucky, 2019-2020. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(7):e2116391. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.16391
Substance Use in Ohio and Kentucky. Interact for Health; Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Retrieved 8/26/21, from https://www.interactforhealth.org//upl/media/ohip-khip_
2020 Overdose Fatality Report Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy; Commonwealth of Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet. Retrieved 8/27/21, from https://odcp.ky.gov/Documents/2020%20KY%20ODCP%20Fatality%20Report%20%28final%29.pdf
(2020, December 15). 2018-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Model-Based Prevalence Estimates (50 States and the District of Columbia) . SAMHSA. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt32805/2019NSDUHsaeExcelPercents/2019NSDUHsaeExcelPercents/2019NSDUHsaePercents.pdf
(2020, December). Kentucky Controlled Substances Act. Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oig/dai/deppb/Documents/KentuckyRevisedStatutes218A.pdf
(2020, October 27). Kentucky Emergency Department (ED) Nonfatal Overdoses, Drug-Attributable Inpatient Hospitalizations, and Substance Abuse-Related Infectious Diseases by County, 2016 to 2019. University of Kentucky; Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center. http://www.mc.uky.edu/kiprc/pubs/overdose/Kentucky-Overdose-Morbidity-County-Profiles.htmlsubstance_use_for_print__01282020.pdf
(2020, September 3). Data on Excessive Drinking. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/data-stats.htm
(2021, February 12). Drug Overdose Mortality by State. CDC/National Center for Health Statistics; Center for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/drug_poisoning_mortality/drug_poisoning.htm
(3/19/18). CDC STUDY: Kentucky has third-highest binge drinking rate in US. WDRB. https://www.wdrb.com/news/cdc-study-kentucky-has-third-highest-binge-drinking-rate-in-us/article_bfc816ae-8cad-5332-97bc-7d103eb5a11f.html
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Drug Abuse Statistics Kentucky
Kentucky Overdose Statistics
What drug has caused the most overdose deaths in Kentucky?
Fentanyl causes more overdose fatalities than any other type of drug. In Kentucky, fentanyl was present in 70% of overdose deaths last year.
Opioids in general, including heroin and prescription pain medication like morphine or Oxycontin. 90% statistic.
What Kentucky county has the most overdose deaths?
Jefferson County had the highest number of fatal overdoses of any county (512). However, when adjusted for population, Knott County, Kentucky had the highest overdose rate in the state.
- Knott 121.69
- Clark 104.3
- Bourbon 98.43
- Henry 87.97
- Carter 82.34
Kentucky Drug Laws
In Kentucky, drugs are categorized into five schedules. The punishment for possession and trafficking (selling, manufacturing or distributing) of these scheduled substances depends on the amount of the drug and which schedule it falls under.
Kentucky Drug Possession Laws
There are 3 degrees of possession under Kentucky Law: first, second and third.
Degree | 1st Degree Possession | 2nd Degree Possession | 3rd Degree Possession |
---|---|---|---|
Drug | Heroin, LSD, Marijuana, Ecstasy, MDMA, Codeine, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Methadone, Morphine, PCP | Meth, Amphetamines, Adderall, Vyvanse, Anabolic steroids | Tramadol, Diazepam (Valium), Lorazepam (Ativan), Lyrica, Robitussin-AC, Low dose narcotics (Tylenol & Codeine) |
Charge | Felony | Misdemeanor | Misdemeanor |
Jailtime | 1 to 5 years or $3,000 to $5,000 or both | 1 to 5 years or $3,000 to $4,000 or both | 1 to 5 years or $3,000 to $4,000 or both |
Possession Law Considerations
- Multiple Possession Charges: If you are charged with drug possession more than once, the courts will lean towards harsher sentencing.
- Marijuana: Even though marijuana is technically a Schedule I drug, the maximum jailtime that you can receive for possession is 45 days.
Kentucky Probation and Parole Drug Testing
If you are on probation or parole in Kentucky, you will be randomly drug tested to ensure you are following the rules of the program.
If your corrections officer suspects you are using, they can order a test to check.
- Cheating a drug test for parole or probation in Kentucky is a felony.Fact Checked
Drug Testing Laws for Welfare
Kentucky does not drug test welfare recipients.
In 2011, Kentucky lawmakers tried to pass a bill that would require anyone receiving federal public assistance or Kentucky Medicaid to be drug tested once per year. Ultimately, the bill was struck down as unconstitutional.
Kentucky Drug Court
Kentucky’s Drug Court program is available to non-violent drug offenders facing legal trouble because of their addiction.
Drug court is a coordinated effort between law enforcement, the Kentucky court system and treatment professionals. The goal is to help people who are struggling with addiction rather than punish them.
The goal is to help people who are struggling get back on their feet rather than punish them. Instead of jail time, people enrolled in drug court have to meet several requirements.
Requirements for Kentucky Drug Court
To qualify for drug court, participants must:
- Attend all required counseling sessions and court appearances
- Maintain contact with court staff once per week
- pass weekly random drug tests
- Maintain full-time employment (or school)
- Pay all required court fees on time
Drug Court Duration
After completing the program, the court will either dismiss your charges or grant you conditional discharge with probation.
Drug court for misdemeanor charges lasts fifteen months minimum. Felony drug court lasts 18 months minimum.
Kentucky Alcohol Statistics
Kentucky Alcohol Laws
Kentucky’s 120 counties decide for themselves if and how they want to restrict alcohol sales. Recently, the law changed allowing bars and restaurants are to sell alcoholic drinks “to-go” with the purchase of food. Each county falls into one of three categories: wet, dry and moist.
Alcohol sales are prohibited in Kentucky’s dry counties: Allen, Casey, Clinton, Edmonson, Elliott, Green, Hart, Knott, Leslie, McLean, Menifee, Monroe, Morgan
Alcohol sales are restricted to certain cities: Ballard, Bell, Boyle, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Carter, Clay, Crittenden, Estill, Garrard, Graves, Grayson, Greenup, Hardin, Harlan, Hickman, Hopkins, Jackson, Johnson, Knox, Larue, Laurel, Lawrence, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Livingston, Logan, Madison, Martin, Mercer, Montgomery, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Owen, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, Trimble, Washington, Webster, Whitley
Wet Counties
All other Kentucky counties are wet counties where alcohol sales are allowed:
Adair, Anderson Barren, Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Campbell, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Cumberland, Daviess, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Grant, Hancock, Harrison, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Lee, Lyon, McCracken, McCreary, Magoffin, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Meade, Metcalfe, Nelson, Nicholas, Oldham, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Powell, Robertson, Russell, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Trigg, Union, Warren, Wayne, Wolfe, Woodford
Alcohol Sales in Kentucky
Kentucky’s laws surrounding the purchase of alcohol are similar to other states- you must be 21 to buy and consume alcoholic beverages and must present a valid ID at the time of purchase.
Statewide alcohol laws permit alcohol purchases from 6 AM until midnight every day except Sundays.
Drug Abuse Treatment Centers in Kentucky
Kentucky Substance Abuse Forum
Follow New Kentucky Substance Abuse Questions
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