Drug Abuse in Kentucky Spurs State Leaders to Act

A graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Dr. Ali Azam Farooqui serves as a resident physician in psychiatry at the University of Louisville. With an interest in addiction medicine, Dr. Ali Azam Farooqui serves as a board member at Fresh Start for Kentucky, a nonprofit group that provides transitional services for individuals in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse. 

Kentucky has seen a significant rise in the number of people dealing with addictions to prescription painkillers and illicit opioids, such as heroin. The state ranks third in the United States in overdose deaths. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 989 opioid-related overdose deaths occurred in Kentucky in 2016, a number that was nearly double the national rate. The problems of addiction are especially prominent in Kentucky's rural communities. 

The University of Kentucky was recently promised $40 million over the next two years to address health disparities and other issues contributing to substance abuse. Additionally, the state's lawmakers are leading efforts to promote drug treatment and rehabilitation over incarceration for drug offenders. Lawmakers are also working in partnership with public and private organizations to provide training and supportive services for those in recovery. 

The ultimate goal is to help those dealing with addiction while investing resources to address the causes of the problem, including economic, regulation, and treatment issues. With targeted research, education, and community involvement, Kentucky hopes to make a lasting difference that will change the trajectory of the opioid epidemic.