Kentucky Drug Office Chief Van Ingram Retires
Longtime head of the Office of Drug Control Policy steps down at the end of 2026, with Tara Hyde named as his successor.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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Van Ingram, who has led Kentucky's Office of Drug Control Policy since 2008, will retire at the end of 2026. Governor Andy Beshear announced the retirement at a press conference in Frankfort and said Tara Hyde will become executive director.
Why it matters
Ingram's tenure spans multiple governors of both parties, who reappointed him to the post. The transition comes as Kentucky reports a nearly 23% drop in overdose deaths, following a four-year downward trend.
The 2025 Drug Overdose Fatality Report shows overdose deaths in Kentucky fell nearly 23% between 2024 and 2025, extending a four-year decline. The report does not attribute the drop to specific causes, and the expected direction of the office under Hyde has not been detailed.
The players
Van Ingram
Ingram has led Kentucky's Office of Drug Control Policy since 2008 after 23 years with the Maysville Kentucky Police Department, including six as its chief.
Tara Hyde
Hyde is CEO of People Advocating Recovery and has been in recovery since 2011, bringing a peer-recovery background to the state's drug policy office.
Andy Beshear
Beshear is the Governor of Kentucky, who announced the leadership change and noted that governors of both parties previously reappointed Ingram.
The details
Governor Andy Beshear announced at a Wednesday press conference in Frankfort that Ingram will retire at the end of 2026. Ingram joined the office in 2004 and became its executive director in 2008, and before that he spent 23 years with the Maysville Kentucky Police Department, including six years as chief. Tara Hyde, CEO of People Advocating Recovery and a person in recovery since 2011, will step into the executive director role.
Timeline
2004: Ingram joins the Office of Drug Control Policy.
2008: Ingram is named executive director.
2011: Tara Hyde enters recovery.
2024 to 2025: Overdose deaths fall nearly 23%.
End of 2026: Ingram retires and Hyde is expected to take over.
Big Picture
Ingram's 2008 appointment placed him at the head of Kentucky's Office of Drug Control Policy, and his tenure now ends with overdose deaths down nearly 23% in the most recent annual report. The handover to Hyde, a peer-recovery leader, marks a shift in who directs the state's overdose response.
Residents seeking addiction treatment or recovery support in Kentucky will be served by the state office under new leadership at the start of 2027. Anyone needing help can find state addiction resources through the link below.
The takeaway
Overdose deaths in Kentucky have fallen for four consecutive years, and residents seeking help can use the state's listed recovery resources. Leadership changes at the state office are a reminder to check current contact information for treatment services.
What happens next
Ingram's retirement takes effect at the end of 2026, when Tara Hyde is expected to assume the executive director role.
Further reading
For more on the state's response, see Substance Abuse coverage across Kentucky.
More information
Find state support through Kentucky addiction help resources.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times-Tribune.com.
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