Davids Discusses Fentanyl Epidemic with Local, State Law Enforcement

OLATHE, KS – Last week, Representative Sharice Davids joined local, state, and federal law enforcement officials for a summit regarding the growing threat of fentanyl, the number one cause of overdose deaths in the United States. Davids received a briefing on current efforts to address the issue and spoke with the law enforcement officials about the challenges they face, measures utilized now, and possible long-term solutions.

"In our state and around the country, the fentanyl crisis has become a public health emergency. This summit was once again a look at how that is impacting our communities here in the Kansas Third," said Davids. "I am committed to working with the law enforcement officials I met with today to fight this crisis head-on, because one death is one too many. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more and will continue these conversations with law enforcement, public health officials, and those in our community impacted most."

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times stronger than morphine, is increasingly found in fake prescription pills such as Vicodin, OxyContin, and Adderall. Overdose deaths dropped by 24 percent from September 2023 to September 2024. Davids is working to build on this momentum and remains committed to protecting Kansans’ health through continued action in Congress.

Davids, a member of the bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus, has collaborated with Midwest HIDTA, a regional office working to reduce illicit drug availability, on multiple fentanyl summits with health care workers, education professionals, and law enforcement officers. She has also taken several legislative actions based on the specific needs of the Kansas Third District, including:

• Joining a bipartisan group of lawmakers to request funding for new handheld mass spectrometry trace-level chemical detection devices at domestic ports.
• Urging the FDA to take up expert recommendations and make Narcan, a common naloxone nasal spray, available without a prescription — which they did earlier this year.
• Securing a nearly $16 million grant to help law enforcement seize illicit drugs like fentanyl, reduce violent crime associated with drug trafficking, and improve data collection.
• Voting to permanently place all fentanyl-related substances into a Schedule I class, labeling the drug with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical value.
• Helping pass a bipartisan bill to create a public awareness campaign about synthetic opioids. This came after meeting with Libby Davis, a Johnson County resident whose son passed away after taking a counterfeit pill unknowingly laced with fentanyl.
• Pushing for expanded federal grant opportunities, so law enforcement and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) can easily acquire life-saving naloxone kits.
• Visiting the Port of Long Beach to see how the port uses state-of-the-art technologies to prevent harmful substances — like fentanyl — from entering the country illegally.

Summit attendees included Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Overland Park Police Department, Johnson County, Drug Enforcement Administration, Franklin County, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Community members looking to learn more about how to keep their families safe can visit the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Kansas City-focused website. Resources and prevention services for individuals, families, schools, and others are available.