FLORENCE, Ky. — Following a second overdose alert in Boone County in just the last few days, members of the Northern Kentucky Health Department were out in areas where overdoses were happening, handing out potentially life saving supplies.

What You Need To Know

  • In the last month, there have been 49 overdoses and counting in Boone County

  • This prompted the Northern Kentucky Health Department to set up booths in these areas to hand out harm reduction supplies

  • The health department said the recent spikes in overdoses are linked to fentanyl being leaked into the drug supply sold on the streets

  • Three of the overdoses in the last month have been fatal

In the last month, there have been 49 overdoses and counting in Boone County, with spikes coming in the last week in areas like Dream Street in Florence. This prompted the health department to set up booths in these areas to hand out harm reduction supplies.

“It’s not your stereotypical user anymore. It’s teenagers. It’s people at parties. It’s recreational users. It’s anybody and everybody,” said NKY Health Public Information Officer Skip Tate. “There’s something bad going on right now in the immediate time frame.”

Gabi Deaton, harm reduction health educator for NKY Health, has overcome her own struggles with substance use, and knows how important it is to meet people where they are.

She said the recent spikes in overdoses are linked to fentanyl being leaked into the drug supply sold on the streets.

“I’m going to attribute what’s going on in Boone County this last week to something really potent going around in the community, and it’s extremely dangerous,” Deaton said. “It’s in every city, every county, every community. And the thing with fentanyl is when you’re purchasing off the street, you don’t know what is in the supply.”

Even a small amount of fentanyl can be deadly.

Three of the overdoses in the last month have been fatal. Deaton said that number would be greater if it weren’t for naloxone, which is why she wants to give out as much of it as possible.

“Naloxone gives people another chance at life. I mean, it’s really a miracle drug,” Deaton said. “All of these are harm reduction. We are just trying to keep people alive until they make the decision that it’s time to enter recovery or treatment, or whatever path that looks like for them.”

Supplies also include fentanyl test strips for people who are using, but aren’t yet ready to enter recovery. Deaton said an important step in fighting this battle is reducing stigma.

NKY Health will be out again at the Walton Fire Department on July 29 with more free harm reduction supplies.

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