Gov. Beshear Highlights Kentucky’s Progress in Fight Against Addiction During Recovery Month

Kentucky has seen four straight years of decreases in overdose deaths

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 25, 2026) - During Recovery Month, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted the progress Team Kentucky has made in fighting addiction. By increasing access to recovery resources, reducing the stigma around asking for help and removing dangerous drugs from communities, Gov. Beshear's administration has secured four straight years of declines in overdose deaths in the commonwealth.

"Addiction has devastated our communities - we've lost too many folks to this disease. That is our past. But we will not accept it as our future," said Gov. Beshear. "Here in Kentucky, we've shown what is possible. We've led the way by letting folks know it's OK to ask for help, by increasing recovery resources and by working to get dangerous drugs off our streets. We're committed to continuing this progress until that overdose death number gets to zero."

In April, Gov. Beshear announced that overdose deaths in the commonwealth decreased for the fourth year in a row, with a 22.9% decrease in 2025 compared with the previous year and a 50.8% decrease from 2021. 2025 saw the lowest number of overdose deaths recorded in the commonwealth since 2014.

Team Kentucky has certified 42 Recovery Ready Communities across the commonwealth, representing more than 2.2 million Kentuckians with access to free treatment resources in the county where they live.

In 2022, Team Kentucky launched FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org, a searchable website to help people in recovery find housing.

Also in 2022, Kentucky launched the easy-to-remember three-digit mental health crisis hotline, 988, which connects Kentuckians facing a risk of suicide, mental health distress or an addiction crisis to compassionate and trained counselors who can help.

In 2023, the Governor announced that the state has increased the number of treatment beds by 50% since he took office in 2019.

In 2024, the administration launched FindNaloxone.ky.gov to help Kentuckians access lifesaving naloxone, or Narcan, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose. Since 2019, Team Kentucky has distributed over 915,000 two-dose naloxone kits in the commonwealth.

Also in 2024, Gov. Beshear launched SecondChance.ky.gov, a website that connects Kentuckians overcoming addiction or leaving incarceration to job and education resources.

In 2025, the Governor announced the emergency designation of bromazolam, also known as "designer Xanax," as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, banning the drug from being sold in Kentucky. This came after the drug was tied to a growing number of fatal overdoses in the commonwealth and across the nation.

Also in 2025, Gov. Beshear announced he was taking action to prevent the sale and distribution of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), an addictive form of Kratom, by moving to classify the drug as a Schedule I narcotic, making it illegal to sell, possess or distribute any isolated or concentrated forms of 7-OH in the state.

This month, the Governor awarded more than $2.1 million in federal grant funding to 17 state and local agencies to fight drug trafficking and continue building a safer New Kentucky Home.

Over the past year alone, Team Kentucky provided more than 33,000 Kentuckians with addiction treatment services through the Kentucky Overdose Response Effort.

So far in 2026, the Kentucky State Police have seized more than $12.1 million worth of drugs, including $1 million worth of fentanyl, removing these drugs from communities and making the commonwealth safer.

On Aug. 31, Gov. Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear lit the Governor's Mansion purple to recognize Overdose Awareness Day, and on Sept. 3, the Governor presented a proclamation recognizing September as Recovery Month, gathering on the Capitol North Lawn along with state officials and recovery advocates.

Treatment Resources
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, the KY HELP Call Center can connect you to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357).