KENTUCKY’S DRUG CRISISHow Our Laws Impact the Growing Epidemic

1-844-KY DEFENSE

A Rampant Problem in KentuckyEvery year, over 1,000 people die from a drug overdose

in Kentucky. For every overdose, there are countless

other lives disrupted by drug abuse and addiction. As

we’ll see in the pages that follow, some of our laws and

approaches to handling drugs have worsened this

epidemic. First, let’s look at just how serious the problem

has become…

1-844-KY DEFENSE

The Startling Statistics• In 2015, 1,248 people died of drug overdose in Kentucky,

an increase of 14% from the year before.

• The counties with the highest rates of overdose deaths (based on population) between 2012 and 2015 were Leslie County, Bell County, Gallatin County, Knott County and Wolfe County.

• The county with the most overdose deaths and the largest increase from 2014 was Jefferson County, with 268 deaths, an increase of 64 percent from the year before.

• The largest demographic in Kentucky overdose deaths was people ages 45 to 54.

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Drugs Found in Toxicology ReportsIn 2015, toxicology reports of overdose victims in Kentucky revealed that:

• Fentanyl was detected in approximately 34% of cases

• Heroin was detected in 28% of cases

• Alprazolam was detected in 28% of cases

• Oxycodone was detected in 23% of cases

• Hydrocodone was detected in 21% of cases.

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A Crackdown on Pills Only Led to More Problems• Over the past several years, Kentucky made many

efforts to crack down on the availability and use of prescription pain pills.

• But since 2012’s House Bill 1 was passed by the Kentucky General Assembly, heroin-related overdoses and drug offenses have soared.

• After pain pills became more difficult to obtain, many users turned to heroin, which was easier to find and less expensive than prescription drugs. While one OxyContin pill costs roughly $80, the equivalent in heroin is $25.

• In contrast to pain pills, heroin is often cut with substances including starch, quinine or strychnine.

1-844-KY DEFENSE

Kentucky’s Approach to Drug Offenders• Kentucky has taken many steps to reduce the harsh

penalties against drug offenders in our state, shifting the focus from punishment to treatment.

• In 2015, Senate Bill 192 was signed into law, offering more treatment for offenders, along with programs such as needle exchanges.

• Despite these efforts, the Courier-Journal reported that drug offenders are still dealt with more harshly in rural counties than they are in urban counties.

• In smaller counties, like Carroll or Bell, incarceration rates of drug offenders, even-first time offenders, is still high.

• Drug offenders in rural areas have less access to drug courts and adequate treatment options.

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More Treatment is Needed• Several studies have shown that “being tough” on

drug offenders is costlier and less effective than treatment programs.

• Only 10% of people with drug or alcohol addictions receive treatment.

• Over 95 cents of every dollar spent by the U.S. on risky substance abuse and addiction is allocated toward consequences (such as punishment), versus less than 2 cents for prevention and treatment.

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Effective Treatment Goes Beyond Abstinence• Like many states in the U.S., Kentucky relies heavily on

abstinence and faith-based programs to reform drug users, though medication-based treatments have proven to be more effective.

• Over 90% of opiate addicts in abstinence-based treatment return to opiate abuse within one year of entering the program.

• Drugs like Suboxone and methadone are considered by the medical community be to more effective methods of treatment than abstinence-based programs, but Kentucky has been slow to embrace these treatments. Thus, addicts find them difficult to get in our state.

• Most doctors who can prescribe these drugs are in our biggest cities, and not in rural areas, leaving some of the regions hit hardest by the epidemic without effective methods of treating addicts. 1-844-KY DEFENSE

Imprisoned Drug Addicts Face Challenges, Too• Once someone is placed into our prison system, either for

drug offenses or non-drug offenses, they are often exposed to illegal drugs. Many of them become addicts or see their addictions grow while in prison.

• A study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that 65% of all inmates in the U.S. meet the medical criteria for substance abuse addiction, yet only 11% receive treatment.

• Studies suggest that offering quality drug treatment to inmates would provide an economic benefit for the nation of more than $90,000 annually per former inmate.

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Understanding Drug Addiction as a DiseaseTo address the challenges Kentucky faces in this epidemic, it is key that we understand:

• Addiction is an illness and requires long-term care, just like any other illness.

• Addiction is not a moral failing.

• Drug users often turn to substance as a form of self-medication for depression or anxiety.

• Imprisoning drug offenders can further their cycle of abuse, alienating them from society and making them more likely to return to their addiction.

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Consequences of a Drug ChargeBeing charged with a drug offense can have a major impact on a person’s life, including:

• Heavy monetary fines

• Prison sentences

• Difficulty finding employment

• Difficulty finding housing

• Difficulty finding educational opportunities.

1-844-KY DEFENSE

If You Need Legal Help with Drug Charges in KYDan Carman and Attorneys represent clients across Kentucky who face drug charges. We understand the challenges presented by drug charges in our state, and we will pursue every avenue to make sure you are treated fairly and given the best defense possible. If you or a loved one needs legal help, contact Dan Carman and Attorneys today.

http://www.kentuckycriminaldefenseattorney.com/ 1-844-KY DEFENSE