Si bien las muertes por sobredosis en el Commonwealth han disminuido, las muertes entre los residentes negros de Kentucky han aumentado en un 5%, según los datos del último Informe de muertes por sobredosis de Kentucky. Organizaciones de todo el estado están trabajando para frenar las muertes por sobredosis entre los residentes de color. En Bowling Green, la organización sin fines de lucro HOTEL INC se centra en la reducción de daños.

Rebecca Troxell, asesora principal, explica que los equipos de calle de este grupo van a los campamentos de personas sin hogar y proporcionan Narcan, tiras reactivas de fentanilo, paquetes de higiene y atención médica.

"Tenemos médicos, paramédicos y enfermeros voluntarios que nos acompañan, por lo que podemos prestar atención medica en el lugar," informa Troxell. "También ofrecemos componentes educativos para ayudar a la gente a entender que es realmente la reducción de danos."

Añade que el reciente subsidio SHIFT de la Fundación para un Kentucky Saludable permitirá a los equipos de calle llegar a más personas. El programa, que concede ayudas de hasta $50,000 dólares, pretende reducir las disparidades y otras desigualdades agravadas por la crisis de drogas.

En Lexington, la organización agrícola sin fines de lucro Black Soil K-Y está agregando cajas de Narcan y materiales educativos a sus mercados de agricultores. También están trabajando para mejorar el acceso a alimentos frescos entre los habitantes en recuperación de Kentucky.

Ashley Smith, cofundadora y directora ejecutiva, dice que los agricultores también recibirán capacitación sobre reducción de daños.

"Sabemos que tener un acceso ilimitado a productos locales, como productos de temporada o carne local en las viviendas de recuperación, supone una gran ventaja para el resultado global," asegura Smith.

Kayla Migneron, del programa de salud materna Granny's Birth Initiative con sede en Louisville, dice que la financiación del subsidio SHIFT ayudará a ampliar la capacitación sobre reducción del estigma para las doulas.

"Nuestro principal objetivo es que cualquier persona se sienta cómoda viniendo a pedir ayuda, ya sea para acceder a recursos utilizando nuestro material o simplemente para solicitar conexiones con otros programas," agrega Migneron.

A nivel nacional, las muertes por sobredosis, en su mayoría entre mujeres negras más jóvenes, casi se triplicaron entre 2015 y 2021.



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Kentucky's latest drug overdose fatality report showed a drop in deaths and for the first time, a decline in deaths among Black Kentuckians.

Groups across the Commonwealth have been working to increase access to harm reduction services.

Latosha Perry, executive director of the Louisville-based nonprofit EmpowHer with Open Arms, said her organization provides prevention services to adolescents as well as group and individual therapy for adults who are typically required to be in therapy in order to see their children.

"Some struggling with addiction or just now coming out of incarceration, they don't have the money to cover those expenses," Perry explained. "It typically decreases the rate of them reunifying with their family."

Overdose deaths in the Commonwealth decreased for the third year in a row, with a slightly more than 30% decrease in 2024, compared with the previous year. Still, more than 1,400 Kentuckians died of a drug overdose.

Ashley Smith, founder and executive director of the nonprofit agribusiness Black Soil Kentucky, said her organization has distributed Narcan units and provided training to farmers so they are equipped to act as first responders.

"We have worked to pair education outreach and technical assistance with direct produce distributions across rural and urban communities," Smith pointed out.

Both organizations received grant funding from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky for their harm reduction efforts.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, call 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357) to get assistance connecting with a treatment center. Information about treatment programs is available at FindHelpNowKy.org, and information about how to obtain naloxone is available at FindNaloxoneNowKy.org.


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As Women's Health Month winds down, public health officials in Minnesota are joining the chorus of professionals warning about the prevalence of alcohol misuse, and the added health risks for women.

Problem drinking among women is on the rise, according to the National Institutes of Health.

When compared to men, women have had larger increases in alcohol-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the past two decades.

Division of Epidemiology & Community Health at the University of Minnesota Professor Toben Nelson said men still drink more, but agrees it's a pressing issue for women.

He noted the significant health consequences if they develop a problem.

"A real concern for younger women - when alcohol is involved, the risks for interpersonal violence are very significant," said Nelson. "Also, injuries related to falling, that is certainly a concern as one ages."

According to federal health agencies, frequent alcohol consumption is also linked to a greater chance of developing breast cancer.

It's recommended that adult women of legal drinking age limit their alcohol intake to one drink or fewer each day.

The NIH website Rethinking Drinking has information on signs of a problem, and how to manage and respond to these situations.

For broader prevention work, Nelson encouraged bars, restaurants, and policymakers to embrace effective strategies.

"Responsible beverage service training in places that serve alcohol," said Nelson, "and also restrictions on alcohol outlet density."

He was referring to limits on approving the number of liquor stores and similar outlets in a given area.

UnitedHealthcare's Chief Medical Officer for Women's Health Dr. Lisa Saul pointed to how alcohol is marketed toward women these days.

"Terminology," said Saul, "like 'it's wine o'clock,' or 'mommy juice,' - those sorts of things have really normalized the consumption of alcohol in ways that we didn't really see before."

With less than a week in the legislative session, Nevada lawmakers are considering a bill which would change the state's laws for driving under the influence.

Senate Bill 304 would eliminate the threshold of offenses for driving under the influence prosecutors need to charge someone with vehicular homicide. Current law mandates a person have three prior DUI offenses within a seven-year period before they can be charged with vehicular homicide on a fourth offense that results in death.

According to state data, half of deadly crashes on Nevada roads are caused by drunken drivers.

Sandy Heverly, cofounder and executive director of the nonprofit Stop DUI, said she believes the bill could help save lives.

"Why are we giving these people three chances to kill us?," Heverly asked. "We've reached a point where the penalty for the crime should, and must, outweigh the risks these drunken fools are willing to take."

The bill would not only allow charges on the first deadly DUI offense but the person could face more time behind bars. Some public defenders oppose the legislation, saying state law is already tough enough on people charged with DUI. They want more training for alcohol servers and providers to prevent incidents in the first place. The bill was heard in committee last week.

Alyssa Belle Yabut is the eldest daughter of Nevada State Police Trooper Alberto Felix. Felix and Nevada Highway Patrol Sergeant Michael Abbate were killed by an impaired driver while they assisted another driver in 2023. Yabut said DUIs not only take lives, they shatter families.

"Every holiday, every birthday and every ordinary day, we feel his absence," Yabut explained. "Unjustly, under the current Nevada law, that driver could not be charged with vehicular homicide because he didn't have three prior DUIs."

Yabut said she wants the bill to be a turning point for Nevada. Critics warned the bill could lead to steep financial implications for the state and perhaps significantly increase the state's prison population.


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