FRANKFORT, Ky. — Drug overdose deaths in Kentucky fell by 5% in 2022, providing an indication of hope that therapy efforts are relieving an dependancy epidemic that continues to be a public well being disaster, Gov. Andy Beshear mentioned Thursday.

It was the primary decline in 4 years, however overdose fatalities in Kentucky surpassed 2,000 once more final yr, based on the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center. It discovered that 2,127 Kentuckians died from drug overdoses in 2022, down from 2,257 the prior yr, the governor’s workplace mentioned.

“That number is still far too high,” the governor mentioned at his weekly information convention. “One is too many. But with the opioid epidemic, we see far, far too many.”

Increased use of fentanyl - a strong artificial opioid - has been broadly blamed as a key issue behind the state’s chronically excessive loss of life toll from drug overdoses.

The subject has risen to the forefront of this yr’s marketing campaign for governor. Republican Kelly Craft says she helps the loss of life penalty for drug traffickers discovered liable for inflicting a Kentuckian’s deadly overdose. Craft is amongst 12 candidates competing for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Kentucky’s May 16 main. Beshear, a Democrat, is looking for reelection to a second time period.

Beshear pointed to a 50% improve within the variety of drug therapy beds in Kentucky since he grew to become governor in late 2019 - a part of bipartisan efforts to bolster drug prevention and intervention efforts.

“We’ve worked hard to remove the cost barrier of treatment, so that every single Kentuckian who wants help today can get it,” he mentioned. “That there is a bed available for them. Addiction spares no one.”

Much extra work stays to beat what stays a public well being disaster, however the decline in overdose deaths provides some excellent news within the state’s struggle in opposition to the opioid and drug epidemic, Beshear mentioned.

“It ought to give us at least hope - hope that progress is possible,” the governor mentioned. “Hope that we can see fewer deaths next year than we saw this year. Hope that we can get more people better and back with their families, back in society, back in a good job.”

KIPRC has been monitoring drug overdose-related deaths since 2011, the governor’s workplace mentioned in a information launch. The Office of Drug Control Policy, in partnership with KIPRC, will launch the 2022 Kentucky Drug Overdose Report in coming months. The report will embody extra information on the variety of drug overdose deaths by county and varied demographics.

Meanwhile, the governor reported a continuation of the state’s traditionally low unemployment charges.

In the previous 15 months, Kentucky’s jobless price has been between 3.8% - its lowest price ever recorded - and 4%, Beshear mentioned. That marks the longest interval that includes the bottom unemployment charges in state historical past, he mentioned. Kentucky has had a 3.8% price throughout 4 months for the reason that begin of 2022.

Last month’s preliminary jobless price was unchanged from the three.8% statewide price recorded one yr in the past, based on the Kentucky Center for Statistics.

The governor touts his administration’s record-setting tempo for financial growth initiatives in making his pitch for a second time period.

Kentucky now has almost 46,000 extra jobs than earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, Beshear mentioned Thursday. He mentioned it’s proof of what may be achieved when “we don’t worry about moving the state to the right or the left, but we move it forward.”

“A good job isn’t red or blue, isn’t D or R, it’s just good for that family,” Beshear mentioned.

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