Overdose Awareness Day being observed Monday

Flags at state office buildings in Kentucky are at half-staff today in observance of Overdose Awareness Day. “Addiction has devastated communities across our nation, and in Kentucky we probably got hit hardest,” said Governor Andy Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. “We’ve lost a lot of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, friends, even sons and daughters, all children of God taken far too soon.” According to the Governor’s Office, Overdose Awareness Day is an acknowledgment of the grief of family and friends impacted by losses from overdose while also serving as an effort to reduce the stigma for people currently struggling with addiction. Beshear highlighted efforts in Kentucky aimed at reducing overdose deaths including Recovery Ready Communities, increased access to naloxone, and increased law enforcement efforts to get drugs off the street. He said those efforts have led to four straight years of decreases in overdose deaths. “In 2025, we saw a 22.9 percent decrease as compared to previous years,” Beshear said. “That means that last year we saw the lowest number of overdose deaths since we started compiling this information, I believe in 2014, and we’re committed to continuing this progress until that number gets to zero.” If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, visit www.findhelpnowky.org, call the Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call 1-833-8KY-HELP(4357).