LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Saturday is International Drug Overdose Awareness Day, the largest annual campaign to help reduce stigma, share prevention education and to recognize those who have lost their lives to drug overdose.  

Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., has ordered flags at half staff to help spread awareness.

Shreeta Waldon is the executive director of the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition. The organization provides assistance called “Overdose Emergency.” It includes Narcan, gloves and other tools to help deescalate an overdose. 

“We don’t want people who are already marginalized, who are already struggling with what they can use with the income they already receive, and now, to add this extra burden,” Waldon said. 

The state’s Justice and Safety Cabinet reported nearly 2,000 Kentuckians died from a drug overdose in 2023. Estill, Lee, Breathitt, Powell and Floyd counties reported the highest rate of overdose fatalities. 

Approximately 79% of the state’s deaths were reported to be related to fentanyl. 

Waldon said it’s important that people have access to things like Narcan and fentanyl test strips whether they know someone living with addiction. 

“I go to people and I give them Narcan and I say, ‘I want to train you.’ The first thing they’ll tell me is that, ‘Well, no, I don’t need it.’ And I say, ‘well, it’s not for you.’ And then they’re like, ‘oh, well, I don’t know anyone.’ Right, I don’t either. I don’t know anyone personally. The problem with that idea is that I end up finding out at a funeral,” Waldon said.

The Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition offers Narcan training, syringe services programs, Hepatitis C and HIV testing, mobile outreach and a health and wellness lounge. Waldon believes education empowers people to be prepared for an overdose. 

Waldon said, “People do recover and people move to make better choices. But people can’t do that if they’re dead. And that is a harsh reality.”