LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The average number of nonfatal overdoses in Lexington ranges anywhere from 10 to 17 per week. The Lexington Fayette County Health Department says 24 nonfatal overdoses were reported in just three days last week. John Moses with the Lexington Fayette County Health Department says they’re seeing an increase in the use of fentanyl…
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The average number of nonfatal overdoses in Lexington ranges anywhere from 10 to 17 per week. The Lexington Fayette County Health Department says 24 nonfatal overdoses were reported in just three days last week.
John Moses with the Lexington Fayette County Health Department says they’re seeing an increase in the use of fentanyl mixed in with other drugs.
“It’s getting mixed into things that aren’t even opioids or depressants, like cocaine or methamphetamine,” he said, “It’s mixed into sometimes marijuana or vape cartridges, and we have people in town that are using drugs that a lot of times don’t know exactly what’s in it and it.”
Which is why Moses says more people should carry Naloxone, better known as Narcan, to help save lives.
DV8 Kitchen in Lexington has a display of 12, 381 purple flags to represent each Kentuckian life lost to a drug overdose since they opened in 2017. Customers say it’s a strong message that raises awareness to the severity of the issue.
“I’m certainly aware of Narcan, having been in the drug business for my entire career, never considered carrying Narcan, I thought that was something first responders carry, but if it could help people, why not,” customer Dean Gittleman said.
The LFCHD says they have free Narcan kits for anyone to pick up. For more information you can visit their website.