In April 2020, early signals from emergency medical services data raised concerns for increasing numbers of drug overdoses during the emerging COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky.1 Subsequently, provisional national data for the 12-month period ending May 2020 showed accelerated drug overdose deaths, resulting in a Health Alert Network Advisory calling for expanded prevention efforts.2 This cross-sectional study evaluates the changes in drug overdose mortality rates for Kentucky residents between 2019 and 2020.
Slavova S, Quesinberry D, Hargrove S, et al. Trends in Drug Overdose Mortality Rates in Kentucky, 2019-2020. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(7):e2116391. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781931?resultClick=3