The city of Lexington reports a 32% drop in overdose deaths last year compared to the year before.
The city reported 120 overdose deaths in 2024. That’s down from 177 in 2023.
Lexington firefighters reversed 356 overdoses last year. The city also reported 1,421 non-fatal overdoses where Narcan was administered.
John Moses is in charge of harm reduction services at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. He says those numbers reflect a recovery after overdose numbers spiked during COVID.
“We got about a 40% reduction right before COVID hit, and it just fell all apart. And it's wonderful to see us going in the right direction again,” Moses said.
Carmen Combs Marks coordinates the city’s substance use disorder intervention program. She says that reduction is because of a team effort.
“This did not happen by chance. It happened because of a collaboration of all of these folks’ dedication and a relentless commitment to fighting these crises head on. It's a community effort,” Marks said.
The city credits expanded access to treatment, more widespread distribution of Narcan and more community engagement as reasons for the decline.
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