Quick answer
Kenton County recorded 52 overdose deaths in 2024, 23 of them involving stimulants like cocaine. There is no FDA-approved medication for cocaine use disorder, but contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy work. NorthKey Community Care and the Northern Kentucky Addiction Helpline are the local ways in. Here is how to start.
Cocaine does not have a medication the way opioid use disorder does, which is why so many people who want to stop feel stuck after a first attempt. The truth is simpler and more hopeful: behavioral treatment is effective for stimulant use disorder, and Northern Kentucky has programs that see cocaine every week. If you are ready, the first step is one conversation.
What Kenton County's numbers show
The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center counted 52 drug overdose deaths among Kenton County residents in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 30.1 per 100,000. Of those, 23 involved stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine, 41 involved opioids, and 31 involved fentanyl specifically.
Statewide, cocaine was involved in 191 Kentucky overdose deaths in 2024 — 13.3% of the total — a 32% decrease from 281 in 2023. Because cocaine is often cut into other drugs, 134 of the state's fentanyl deaths also involved cocaine.
What treatment for cocaine actually looks like
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is blunt: there is no FDA-approved medication for cocaine use disorder, but behavioral treatments work.
- Contingency management — tangible rewards (vouchers, prizes, or gift cards) for verified drug-free tests. This is the strongest-performing approach for stimulant use disorder in clinical trials.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy — identifying the situations, moods, and thoughts that trigger use, and building practical ways through them.
- Structured outpatient programs — a regular schedule, groups, and case management.
One honest caveat: program listings do not flag contingency management, so ask the question directly when you call — does this program offer contingency management for stimulant use, and how quickly can it start?
Where to get help in Covington
NorthKey Community Care is the community behavioral health provider for Northern Kentucky, offering outpatient substance use treatment and medication services, with a 24/7 crisis line at 859-331-3292.
The Northern Kentucky Addiction Helpline, 859-415-9280, is a free local line that helps people locate treatment and get connected. Both are set up for the call you are dreading — you do not have to have the right words.
The polysubstance reality
Cocaine in this region rarely travels alone. Kenton County's 2024 deaths were dominated by fentanyl, and stimulants and opioids are commonly used together or found together in the same supply. Two practical consequences:
- Tell any program everything you use, not just cocaine. A plan that ignores the opioid part misses the most dangerous part.
- If opioids are anywhere in the picture, carry naloxone. Certified Kentucky pharmacies can dispense it without a separate prescription, and the Northern Kentucky Health Department distributes free naloxone and runs a syringe access exchange in Kenton County on Thursdays, 1:00–4:00 p.m. at the Kenton County Health Center, 1415 James Simpson Jr. Way.
Paying for treatment
Kentucky Medicaid covers medically necessary behavioral health treatment for substance use disorders, including intensive outpatient programs and counseling, for eligible members. If you are uninsured, a community behavioral health provider can still serve you — ask about the sliding fee scale.
How to start today
- If someone shows chest pain, a seizure, or severe agitation after using, call 911 now. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through options with a person — no pressure, no commitment:
Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers.
- Call NorthKey at 859-331-3292 or the NKY Addiction Helpline at 859-415-9280 and ask for a substance use assessment.
- When you call a program, ask specifically about contingency management, and mention everything you use so the plan fits reality.
Stimulant use disorder is treatable, and Covington has programs that treat it. The first call is the hard part.
Emergency and crisis lines
Call 911 first if someone is unresponsive, seizing, overheated, or having chest pain after using. For a mental health or substance use crisis that is not a medical emergency, call or text 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any facility named above.
Last updated: Mon Oct 19 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a medication for cocaine addiction?
No FDA-approved medication exists for cocaine or other stimulant use disorder. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, treatment is behavioral: contingency management (rewards for verified drug-free tests), cognitive behavioral therapy, and structured outpatient programs.
How common is cocaine in Kentucky overdoses?
The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center reports 191 overdose deaths involving cocaine in 2024 - 13.3% of the state's total - a 32% decrease from 281 in 2023. Cocaine was also present in 134 fentanyl-involved deaths, so it rarely appears alone.
What is contingency management and does it work?
Contingency management gives concrete rewards - vouchers, prizes, or gift cards - when drug tests come back negative. It is the behavioral treatment with the strongest evidence for stimulant use disorder. Listings do not flag which programs offer it, so ask directly when you call.
Where can I get help with cocaine use in Covington?
NorthKey Community Care provides outpatient and medication services across Northern Kentucky, with a 24/7 crisis line at 859-331-3292. The Northern Kentucky Addiction Helpline, 859-415-9280, is a free local line for finding treatment. The Northern Kentucky Health Department also runs a syringe access exchange in Kenton County.
What should I do in a stimulant emergency?
Call 911 if someone has chest pain, a seizure, very high body temperature, severe agitation, or is unresponsive - these are medical emergencies. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988, or call or text (800) 653-9376.