Jefferson and Fayette Counties

Demographics – Jefferson and Fayette counties were singled out because they are the two most populous Kentucky counties, they have the highest percentage of minorities, and they represent the most urban centers. Table 12.1 presents demographic information for Fayette County , Jefferson County , and all other Kentucky Counties combined. Fayette County is slightly younger. Fayette and Jefferson Counties both had a higher percentage of African Americans than the rest of Kentucky , a higher percentage of persons with a college degree, and a higher percentage of households with income greater than $50,000/year.

Table 12.1: Demographic variables

The following tables do not control for these variables but present the estimates for comparison.

Alcohol and Cigarette Use – Jefferson County had a higher percentage of persons who ever smoked. Fayette and Jefferson Counties had a higher percentage of persons who ever used alcohol. Persons in Fayette and Jefferson Counties tended to start using alcohol and cigarettes at a later age than the rest of Kentucky . Table 12.2 presents cigarette and alcohol use information by county.

Table 12.2: Lifetime use of cigarettes and alcohol

Use of Illicit Drugs – There are several notable differences between Fayette, Jefferson, and the rest of Kentucky on illicit drug use. In general, persons in Fayette and Jefferson counties were more likely to ever use illicit drugs than other Kentuckians. Persons in Jefferson and Fayette Counties were more likely to ever use marijuana, MDMA, other stimulants, and hallucinogens than other Kentuckians. Persons in Fayette and Jefferson Counties were less likely to use Inhalants. Persons in Jefferson County were more likely than persons in Fayette County to use illicit drugs in all categories. Table 12.3 presents the percent of persons who used illicit drugs by county.

Table 12.3: Lifetime use of illicit drugs

DSM-IV-TR Criteria – Fayette and Jefferson County residents were more likely to meet criteria for any substance use disorder, alcohol abuse, or drug abuse than other Kentuckians. However, Fayette and Jefferson County residents were less likely to meet three or more criteria for drug dependence than the rest of Kentucky. Table 12.4 presents the percent of persons who have ever met DSM-IV-TR criteria for substance use disorders by county.

Table 12.4: Lifetime DSM-IV-TR criteria

Treatment Need – A higher percentage of persons in Jefferson County need treatment than the persons in Fayette County or other Kentuckians. The percent of persons needing treatment in Fayette County was slightly higher than the percent of persons in need of treatment in the rest of Kentucky (excluding Jefferson County ). Table 12.5 presents the percent of persons in need of treatment.

Table 12.5: Current treatment need