FRANKFORT, KY (March 20, 2023) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today held an "Operation Fight Fentanyl" forum in Simpson County to combat the leading cause of opioid overdose deaths in the Commonwealth – fentanyl. Attorney General Cameron was joined in Franklin by a panel consisting of first responder, law enforcement, prosecutor, and community partners.
This is the fourth Operation Fight Fentanyl event hosted by Attorney General Cameron.
"Stopping the fentanyl crisis is a top priority for my office," said Attorney General Cameron. "While we continue to hold the Biden administration accountable for its failures at our southern border, we also know it's important to hear from Kentuckians who have been impacted by this deadly drug. I am thankful to the Franklin community for joining us today to discuss how we can protect future generations from this scourge."
The Operation Fight Fentanyl Forum allowed Attorney General Cameron to hear from stakeholders and community members regarding the impact of fentanyl and discuss possible solutions.
"Building strong partnerships between local and state agencies is essential to tackling the opioid epidemic," said Commonwealth's Attorney Corey Morgan. "Operation Fight Fentanyl not only strengthens these relationships, but it also allows stakeholders and those directly impacted by this deadly drug to voice their concerns, and I'm thankful for this initiative and the opportunity to be a part of today's panel in Franklin."
Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's latest report, nearly 70,000 people died from overdose of synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, in the 12-month period ending in August 2022. In 2021, the Commonwealth lost 2,250 Kentuckians to overdose death, and fentanyl was detected in more than 70 percent of these cases. In 2021, in Simpson County alone, 10 Kentuckians died from overdose.
"Attorney General Cameron has been diligently working to stem the tide of the epidemic by securing over $842 million in settlement funds, urging the Biden Administration to act, and now by holding Operation Fight Fentanyl forums in communities across the Commonwealth," said Executive Director Bryan Hubbard. "I am thankful to Kentuckians for showing up and sharing their stories with us."
In September, Attorney General Cameron joined a bi-partisan coalition of 18 attorneys general in urging President Biden to classify fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction. In February, he also joined 21 attorneys general in asking the Administration to designate certain Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
Last week, Attorney General Cameron sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland calling on the Department of Justice to take immediate action to address the primary cause of overdose deaths in Kentucky and the United States – fentanyl.
Prior to the Simpson County forum, Attorney General Cameron has held Operation Fight Fentanyl events in Kenton, Pendleton, and Whitley Counties. The next Operation Fight Fentanyl forum will be held in Greenup County on March 22. To learn more about Operation Fight Fentanyl, click here.
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