In Kentucky, 16,974 non-fatal overdoses were recorded in 2020. That’s according to data collected by the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center.
Non-fatal overdoses are calculated by adding the number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for overdoses.
Mira Mirzaian, an epidemiologist with KIPRIC, said the number of non-fatal overdoses could actually be higher.
“During the pandemic, people are less likely to seek medical treatment, or be admitted to an inpatient facility due to COVID restrictions,” Mirzaian said. “So the true burden of non-fatal drug overdose may be greater than what we're seeing in these illustrations.”
She also explained why more than 1,200 non-fatal overdoses were recorded in children under 15.
“Children under 15 years of age experienced a fairly high number of non-fatal drug overdose potentially due to accidental ingestion of medication and other household poisons,” Mirzaian said.
Opioids made up more than 40% of non-fatal overdoses.
Drug overdose deaths have increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kentucky saw at least 600 more deaths in 2020 compared to 2019.