Addiction in Kentucky

By Dr. Brian Wind Ph.D.

JourneyPure.com doctors follow rigorous sourcing guidelines and cite only trustworthy sources of information, including peer-reviewed journals, count records, academic organizations, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports and their own expertise with decades in the field and their own personal recovery.

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

Disclaimer

All content is for informational purposes only. No material on this site, whether from our doctors or the community, is a substitute for seeking personalized professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard advice from a qualified healthcare professional or delay seeking advice because of something you read on this website.

In the latest data from the CDC, Kentucky ranks in the top 10 for drug overdoses and in the top three for binge drinking. Read more about addiction laws, help and facts in Kentucky. Ask your own question at the bottom or follow the latest Kentucky questions.

Drug Abuse Statistics Kentucky

38% of Kentucky residents report having a family member or friend who struggles with prescription drugs.

Drug abuse caused 52,294 emergency department visits last year in KY alone.

Kentucky has the 5th highest opioid dispensing rate in the US (72.3 per 100 people).

Kentucky Overdose Statistics

Compared to other states, Kentucky had the 7th highest number of overdose deaths in 2019 when adjusted for population.

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 has the third highest rate of binge drinking in the US.

5.45% of Kentuckians struggled with Alcohol Use Disorder in the past year.

There were 21,998 DUI arrests in Kentucky in 2019.

Lexington had the highest rate of heavy drinking in Kentucky, 19.8% of adults reported excessive drinking.

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.

Dry Counties

Alcohol sales are prohibited in Kentucky’s dry counties: Allen, Casey, Clinton, Edmonson, Elliott, Green, Hart, Knott, Leslie, McLean, Menifee, Monroe, Morgan

Moist Counties

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

What is Casey’s Law?

Casey’s Law helps family members in KY and OH save their loved one by forcing them into addiction treatment through…

Read More

Dr. Brian Wind Ph.D.
(7)
Do Hospitals in Kentucky Drug Test Newborns?

Kentucky’s opioid crisis is causing a huge surge in cases of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome –a condition that occurs when a…

Read More

Dr. David Zoeller M.D.
(29)
What are the best drug & alcohol rehabs in Owensboro, Kentucky?

If you are looking for treatment in Owensboro, you have options – even if you don’t have insurance. We review…

Read More

Dr. Brian Wind Ph.D.
(0)
Does insurance cover addiction treatment in Kentucky?

Addiction treatment is covered by insurance companies as an essential health benefit. The Affordable Care Act mandates that any insurance…

Read More

Dr. Brian Wind Ph.D.
(0)

What now?

Get more answers.

Get an Email With Updates on This Topic

Subscribe Now

X
Subscribe Now

Everything you follow is combined into one update emailed to you weekly. Since you're not logged in, check your email after you submit to confirm.

E-mail : *
Talk About Your Options for Treatment
Share This Link on Social or with a Friend

The link has been copied