(FRANKFORT, Ky.)-Kentucky has the seventh-highest poisoning-related death rate in the United States, with 44.81 fatalities per 100,000 residents in 2023—a 44% increase above the national average of 31.06 per 100,000, according to a new study.
The research by Florida-based law firm Anidjar & Levine analyzed National Safety Council data and found Kentucky recorded 2,028 poisoning deaths in 2023 among its 4.5 million residents.
“The findings underscore a troubling pattern of poisoning-related deaths in Kentucky, drawing attention to underlying public health challenges,” said a spokesperson for the firm.
Contributing factors may include high rates of substance misuse, limited access to emergency care in rural areas, and insufficient education about safe storage of potentially harmful substances, according to the study. Many communities lack adequate awareness of risks from prescription medications and illegal drugs.
The firm recommends Kentucky boost mental health outreach, enhance poison prevention education, and increase addiction recovery support to address the crisis through community-based approaches.
The study compared poisoning fatality rates across all 50 states using 2023 data from the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts database to identify where residents face the highest poisoning risks nationwide.