Quick answer
Fentanyl drove 31 of Kenton County's overdose deaths in 2024 - the third-highest county count in Kentucky. Medication for opioid use disorder (buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone) is the standard of care and Kentucky Medicaid covers it. NorthKey Community Care and the Northern Kentucky Health Department are the local front doors. Here is how to start.
Fentanyl is the reason the overdose numbers in Northern Kentucky look the way they do, and it is also the reason treatment here is different from a decade ago: medication works. If fentanyl is part of your life, or someone you love, the honest, useful thing to know is that opioid use disorder is treatable, and the path starts with a single call.
What Kenton County's numbers show
The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center counted 31 fentanyl-involved overdose deaths among Kenton County residents in 2024 — the third-highest county total in Kentucky, after Jefferson (269) and Fayette (64). The county's full appendix data show 52 total overdose deaths in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 30.1 per 100,000, with opioids involved in 41 and stimulants in 23.
Statewide, the picture is improving but still severe: Kentucky recorded 1,439 overdose deaths in 2024, down 28.8% from 2,020 in 2023.
Medication is the standard of care
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is clear that medication for opioid use disorder — not willpower alone — is the standard of care, and that people on medication are less likely to die or overdose than people who go without.
- Buprenorphine — a daily tablet or film, prescribable in a doctor's office or clinic; no special authorization is required anymore.
- Methadone — dispensed daily at a federally certified opioid treatment program.
- Naltrexone — blocks opioid receptors, but you must be fully through withdrawal before it can start.
Medication works best alongside counseling, and it can continue through pregnancy under medical care. Talk to a clinician about which option fits.
Where to get care in Covington
NorthKey Community Care is the community behavioral health provider for the Northern Kentucky region, with outpatient and medication services and 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 find treatment and get into it.
If you are not sure where to begin, call one of those numbers and say plainly what you are using and what you want to change. They are set up for exactly that call.
Naloxone and harm reduction
Fentanyl is present in much of the region's drug supply, often in pills that look like something else, so everyone using opioids should carry naloxone and the people around them should know how to use it.
- The Northern Kentucky Health Department distributes free naloxone at its health centers and through a mail-order program open to Kentucky residents.
- Its syringe access exchange in Kenton County runs Thursdays, 1:00–4:00 p.m. at the Kenton County Health Center, 1415 James Simpson Jr. Way, Covington 41011.
- Certified Kentucky pharmacies can dispense naloxone without a separate prescription under the state's standing physician protocol.
Naloxone cannot hurt someone who is not overdosing. If you are unsure, give it.
Paying for treatment
Kentucky Medicaid covers medically necessary treatment for opioid use disorder for eligible members, including medication and counseling. If you are uninsured, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic or a publicly funded provider can still serve you — ask about the sliding fee scale.
How to start today
- If someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through options with a treatment specialist — free and without obligation:
Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers.
- Call NorthKey at 859-331-3292 (24/7) or the NKY Addiction Helpline at 859-415-9280 and ask for an assessment.
- Ask about starting buprenorphine this week — same-day or next-day induction is possible at many programs now.
Fentanyl use disorder is treatable, and Covington has providers ready to start. The first call is the hardest part.
Emergency and crisis lines
Call 911 first if someone is unresponsive, breathing slowly, or turning blue. 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
How bad is fentanyl in Kenton County?
The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center reports 31 fentanyl-involved overdose deaths among Kenton County residents in 2024 - the third-highest county count in the state, behind Jefferson (269) and Fayette (64). Kenton County recorded 52 total overdose deaths that year, an age-adjusted rate of 30.1 per 100,000.
Do methadone and buprenorphine actually work?
Yes. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or overdose than people who get no medication. Methadone is dispensed at certified opioid treatment programs; buprenorphine can be prescribed in a doctor's office; naltrexone blocks opioid receptors but requires full detox first.
Where can I get naloxone in Covington?
The Northern Kentucky Health Department gives out free naloxone at its county health centers and runs a mail-order program open to Kentucky residents. Its syringe access exchange in Kenton County runs Thursdays, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Kenton County Health Center, 1415 James Simpson Jr. Way, Covington 41011. Certified Kentucky pharmacies can also dispense naloxone without a separate prescription.
Who do I call in a crisis in Covington?
If someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. For a mental health or substance use crisis that is not a medical emergency, call or text 988, or call NorthKey Community Care's 24/7 crisis line at 859-331-3292. The Northern Kentucky Addiction Helpline, 859-415-9280, helps locate treatment.
Does Kentucky Medicaid cover treatment for fentanyl use?
For eligible members, yes. Kentucky Medicaid covers medically necessary substance use disorder treatment, including medications for opioid use disorder and counseling. Confirm network and prior authorization with your plan when you call.