Opioid overdose deaths decline in Kentucky and Michigan

Efforts to combat the opioid crisis are showing measurable results in parts of the United States. In Kentucky, overdose deaths fell to 1,110 in 2025, marking a fourth consecutive annual decline and a nearly 23% drop from the previous year. The Kentucky Statewide Opioid Stewardship (KYSOS) program, a partnership between the Kentucky Hospital Association and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, is a key factor in this trend. Through 17 Emergency Department Bridge Programs, peer support specialists have logged over 2,000 contacts in 2026, providing recovery coaching, treatment referrals, and harm reduction education.

Similarly, Michigan has seen a downward trend in overdoses. Oakland County reported a 37% decrease in overdose deaths between 2023 and 2024. Local organizations have distributed more than 2,300 Narcan kits, resulting in 430 rescues between January 2023 and June 2025. To mark the 25th annual International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities is hosting a Naloxone training resource fair in Troy to continue emphasizing education and prevention.