KENTUCKY — According to the 2021 Kentucky Drug Overdose Report, new data shows that more than 2,200 Kentuckians died from drug overdoses in 2021.

Our state’s rising death count mirrored the nation’s escalating overdose epidemic. 

Last year, for the first time, more than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses over a 12-month period, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with about two-thirds of those deaths linked to fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.

Van Ingram is the Executive Director for the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, which has a mission of coordinating Kentucky’s substance abuse efforts in enforcement, treatment along with prevention and education. During this In Focus Kentucky segment, Ingram discusses how his office is tackling the opioid epidemic, while explaining that fatal drug overdoses rose nearly 15% in Kentucky last year, surpassing 2,000 deaths as the increased use of fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid — resulted in a record death toll in the state.

"You know, 2,250 Kentuckians died in 2021 of a totally preventable death. Statistically, that's six Kentuckians, every day dying of a drug overdose. Fentanyl is literally killing our people. Out of those 2250 deaths. 72.9% of those deaths had fentanyl in the bloodstream of those who died. The drug cartels in the south of the border have completely changed their business model. It's all fentanyl," said Ingram.

The highest number of drug overdose deaths in 2021 occurred among Kentuckians aged 35-44, the report said. There were 672 deaths in that age group last year, up 17.5% from the prior year.

The overdose fatality report was released by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and the Office of Drug Control Policy.

Kentucky has long been plagued by high rates of addiction to opioid painkillers.

In 2020, over 1,960 Kentuckians died from drug overdoses, up nearly 50% from the pre-pandemic death count of 1,316 in 2019. Many people discontinued their drug treatment efforts out of fear of contracting COVID-19.

You can watch the full In Focus segment in the player above.