Quick answer
Methamphetamine was found in 50.8% of Kentucky's 2024 overdose deaths — one of the two drugs most often involved. There is no FDA-approved medication for it, but contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy work. Kentucky River Community Care runs treatment in Hazard. Here is how to start.
Methamphetamine has been part of eastern Kentucky for a generation, and it is now one of the two drugs most often found in the state's overdose deaths. Unlike opioids, it has no replacement medication — but it does have treatment that works, and Perry County has a provider that delivers it. If you are trying to stop, the first step is smaller than it feels.
What Perry County's numbers show
The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy counts 12 Perry County overdose deaths in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 43.6 per 100,000 — half the county's 2023 toll of 24 deaths.
Statewide, methamphetamine was identified through toxicology in 716 overdose deaths in 2024 — 50.8% of the total, making it one of the two most prevalent drugs in Kentucky overdose deaths. It appeared alongside fentanyl in 509 deaths, and with amphetamine in 622.
What treatment for meth actually looks like
The National Institute on Drug Abuse confirms there is no FDA-approved medication for methamphetamine use disorder, but behavioral treatments work.
- Contingency management — concrete rewards (vouchers, prizes, or gift cards) for verified drug-free tests. This is the strongest-evidence approach for stimulant use disorder.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy — recognizing the people, places, and feelings that lead back to use, and building a plan for each.
- Structured outpatient or residential programs — a steady schedule, groups, and case management to replace the structure meth took away.
Ask each program directly: do you offer contingency management for stimulant use, and how soon can I be assessed?
Where to get care in Hazard
Kentucky River Community Care (KRCC) is the community behavioral health provider for Perry and seven neighboring counties, with outpatient substance use treatment, crisis services, and recovery support including housing and peer mentoring. Crossroads Crisis Services is at 310 Roy Campbell Drive in Hazard.
KRCC's open-access model lets people walk in for an initial visit instead of waiting on a referral — which matters when you have decided to get help now.
The polysubstance reality
Kentucky's drug supply mixes stimulants and opioids — the state's 2024 toxicology data found fentanyl and methamphetamine together in 509 deaths. Two practical steps:
- Tell any program everything you use. A plan built only around meth misses the fentanyl that may be in the same supply.
- If opioids are anywhere in the picture, carry naloxone. Certified Kentucky pharmacies dispense it without a separate prescription under the state's standing physician protocol, and KRCC provides naloxone and overdose education.
Paying for treatment
Kentucky Medicaid covers medically necessary substance use disorder treatment for eligible members, including outpatient and residential care. If you are uninsured, a community behavioral health provider can still serve you — ask about the sliding fee scale before you assume you cannot afford it.
How to start today
- If someone has chest pain, a seizure, or a dangerously high body temperature, call 911 now. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through options with a person — free and without obligation:
Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers.
- Call or walk in to KRCC and ask for a substance use assessment.
- Ask two questions of any program: do you offer contingency management, and can I be seen this week?
Methamphetamine use disorder is treatable. You do not have to wait for a bottom to start.
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 methamphetamine addiction?
No. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports there is no FDA-approved medication for methamphetamine or other stimulant use disorder. Treatment is behavioral - contingency management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and structured outpatient or residential programs.
How common is meth in Kentucky overdoses?
The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy identified methamphetamine through toxicology in 716 overdose deaths in 2024 - 50.8% of the state's total. It appeared alongside fentanyl in 509 deaths, making that pair one of the most common combinations.
What is contingency management?
Contingency management gives concrete rewards - vouchers, prizes, or gift cards - when drug tests come back negative. It has the strongest evidence base for stimulant use disorder. Programs do not always advertise it, so ask directly whether they offer it.
Where can I get treatment in Hazard?
Kentucky River Community Care (KRCC) is the community behavioral health provider for Perry and seven neighboring counties, with outpatient substance use treatment, crisis services, and recovery support. Crossroads Crisis Services is at 310 Roy Campbell Drive in Hazard.
What should I do in an emergency?
Call 911 if someone has chest pain, a seizure, very high body temperature, severe agitation, or is unresponsive. For a mental health or substance use crisis that is not a medical emergency, call or text 988, or call or text (800) 653-9376.