Drug Use in Kentucky
Kentucky has a population of 4,588,372 people. The most recent data from the 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 558,000 people over the age of 12 had used illegal substances in the past month, around 12.16% of the population. 483,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 712,000 in the past year.
The report also found that 55,000 Kentucky residents had used cocaine in the past year, 59,000 had used meth, and 133,000 had misused prescription pain medication. 8,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse, including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl, in Kentucky totaled 141,000 people.
Alcohol Use in Kentucky
Alcohol misuse was also reported in Kentucky, with 1,571,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 688,000 reporting binge drinking. The perceived risk of people over 12 years of age indulging in problematic alcohol use (5 or more drinks twice a week) in a month was 1,611,000 people.
Addiction Treatment Statistics in Kentucky
The NSDUH report also recorded the total number of substance abuse disorders in Kentucky and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 660,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 379,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 91,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder, including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based use disorders.
The NSDUH report also measures the gap between the people who need substance use treatment and those who actually receive it. It found that 709,000 people in Kentucky were classified as needing substance use treatment in the past year, 175,000 received substance use treatment, and 532,000 did not receive the treatment they were classified as needing.
Government assistance for addiction treatment in Kentucky
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services has a Department of Medicaid Services that provides its beneficiaries with behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment.
Some of these treatment services include assessments to define the nature of your problem, screening to evaluate the presence of substance use, psychological testing, and crisis intervention.
Other services provided by the Department of Medicaid include day treatment, an intensive treatment program for children and youth younger than 21 years old, peer support, an intensive outpatient program, and outpatient therapy for an individual, group, or family member.
This department offers referrals to appropriate treatment and specialized care for individuals suffering from substance abuse.
You can reach the Department of Medicaid Services at (800) 221-0446.
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- 2023-2024 NSDUH: Model-Based Estimated Totals for States (in Thousands). (2026, February 4). Samhsagov. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-2024-nsduh-estimated-totals-state
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- CDC NCHS, Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (2026). Cdc.Gov. https://data.cdc.gov/d/xkb8-kh2a