Van Ingram, longtime director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy is retiring after 22 years. (Screenshot)
Help is available to Kentuckians living with addiction. For resources, visit https://findhelpnow.org/ky. In physical emergencies, call 911. For mental health crises, call or text 988. Locate free Naloxone (Narcan), which can reverse overdoses, near you here.
Van Ingram, the longtime head of Kentucky’s Office of Drug Control Policy, is retiring at the end of 2026, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Wednesday.
Tara Hyde, the CEO of People Advocating Recovery who is in long term recovery, will step into the role of executive director.
Ingram has been with the office since 2004, when Ernie Fletcher was governor of Kentucky.
Before that, he worked with the Maysville Kentucky Police Department for 23 years, including six as chief of police, according to the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. Ingram was named executive director of the office in 2008.
“There are caring people all over state government, in every cabinet and every agency, that have worked to bring this problem under control, as well as the Administrative Office of the Courts, the General Assembly, have all played a big part in our success,” said Ingram.
During Ingram’s time with the Office of Drug Control Policy, overdose deaths took a downward turn. The 2025 Drug Overdose Fatality Report showed overdose deaths are down nearly 23% from 2024, following a four-year downward trend.
“It’s this work that led governor after governor, both Republicans and Democrats, to reappoint him to this position,” Beshear said during a Wednesday press conference in Frankfort.
Hyde, a longtime advocate for policy to help people in recovery, has herself been in recovery since 2011.
“Since being in recovery and overcoming addiction, I’ve found a real passion for helping people, for getting people access to services and for creating new services when they didn’t exist,” Hyde said. “That’s why I’ve made it my life’s work to support recovery services as well as individuals who are actively seeking help.”
She added: “I look forward to stepping into this role to support my fellow Kentuckians who are fighting addiction and going through substance use disorder treatment, recovery support services, looking for housing and gaining access to meaningful, passionate lives — because that’s what we all deserve.”
This story may be updated.
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Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
