Quick answer
Madison County had the third-highest count of methamphetamine-involved overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2024, with 16. There is no FDA-approved medication for meth, but contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy work. New Vista runs treatment in Richmond. Here is how to start.
Methamphetamine is one of the two drugs most often found in Kentucky overdose deaths, and Madison County carries more of that burden than most. Unlike opioids, meth has no replacement medication — but it does have treatment that works, and Richmond has a provider that delivers it. If you are trying to stop, the first step is smaller than it feels.
What Madison County's numbers show
The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center counted 16 methamphetamine-involved overdose deaths among Madison County residents in 2024 — the third-highest county count in the state, behind Jefferson (120) and Fayette (23). The state's 2024 fatality report puts Madison County's total at 37 overdose deaths, an age-adjusted rate of 41.9 per 100,000, above Kentucky's statewide rate of 32.0.
Statewide, methamphetamine was identified through toxicology in 716 overdose deaths in 2024 — 50.8% of the total — and it appeared alongside fentanyl in 509 deaths.
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 Richmond
New Vista is the community behavioral health provider for Madison and 16 other central Kentucky counties. Its Madison County Anchor Center at 411 Gibson Lane, Richmond, KY 40475 offers outpatient substance use counseling, intensive outpatient programs, medication-assisted recovery, and recovery support — with walk-in intakes on weekday mornings and afternoons, no appointment needed.
New Vista does not turn people away for inability to pay, and its 24-hour helpline is 1-800-928-8000.
The polysubstance reality
Kentucky's drug supply mixes stimulants and opioids, and more than 93% of the state's fentanyl-involved deaths in 2024 also involved another drug. 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 New Vista can point you to local options.
Paying for treatment
Kentucky Medicaid covers medically necessary substance use disorder treatment for eligible members, including outpatient and intensive outpatient care. If you are uninsured, New Vista 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 New Vista's 24-hour helpline at 1-800-928-8000, or walk in to 411 Gibson Lane during intake hours.
- 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 Madison County?
The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center counted 16 methamphetamine-involved overdose deaths among Madison County residents in 2024 - the third-highest county count in Kentucky. The county's total was 37 overdose deaths, a rate of 41.9 per 100,000.
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 do I start in Richmond?
New Vista's Madison County Anchor Center at 411 Gibson Lane in Richmond offers outpatient substance use counseling, intensive outpatient care, medication-assisted recovery, and recovery support, with walk-in intakes on weekday mornings and afternoons. Its 24-hour helpline is 1-800-928-8000.
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 New Vista's 24-hour helpline at 1-800-928-8000.