Sheriff: 750K-plus fentanyl pills seized in Sedgwick County so far in ‘24

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Statistics for Sedgwick County provide insight into the scope of the fentanyl crisis in south-central Kansas.

About 80% of drug overdose deaths in Sedgwick County are fentanyl-related. While that number may seem high, the joint Wichita-Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit has seized about 750,000 fentanyl pills so far this year. Statistics show that fentanyl is here and the reality of that is far from letting up.

“This stuff is extremely strong. We’re not seeing where one dose of Narcan is bringing people back. It’s multiple doses that we’re having to administer and the most we’ve administered to somebody is five,” Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said.

Wednesday morning, Easter shared what his office is seeing. In addition to the staggering 750,000 fentanyl-laced pills, fakes made to look like prescriptions, powdered fentanyl, meaning it hasn’t been combined with other drugs or substances, is also a growing problem.

“It’s very dangerous. If it’s not cut with something before it comes here, if it’s straight fentanyl powder, that type of power can soak through your system, you can breathe it,” Easter said.

The sheriff said additional staffing with detectives and deputies is leading to quicker responses. With opioid settlement money, Easter is hoping that the funds will have a broader effect.

“We’re hoping in the future, we can get on the front end of this, which means prevention, education, treatment, recovery services that would be more robust than we have,” he said.

That work is well underway with organizations like DCCCA. This includes training on signs and using the overdose-reversal drug, Naloxone.

“(We are) seeing fentanyl being used with cocaine or methamphetamine and so there’s a lot of education on that as well because we know that Naloxone only works on opioids, and so when you have another substance, it creates a whole other safety situation,” said DCCCA Community Support Specialist Stacy Haines.

DCCCA also has a Naloxone vending machine in Wichita at 705 N. Broadway. Since launching earlier this year, Haines said the machine has dispensed more than 2,800 kits.

“It’s nice to have that 24-7 access, 365 days a year, right there at 705 N. Broadway, Haines said. “So, we’re glad that we can provide that.”

On its website, DCCCA offers training and a place where you can request Naloxone, fentanyl test strips and drug disposal bags.

Additional resources:

DCCCA prevention services: https://www.dccca.org/prevention-services/kansas/

DCCCA Naloxone Program: https://www.dccca.org/naloxone-program/

Fentanyl-related deaths in Sedgwick County: https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/forensic-science/data-and-statistics/

Sedgwick County drug misuse resources: https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/drugmisuse/

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