Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter told employers they should be concerned about fentanyl in the Wichita region during a webinar hosted by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, Greater Wichita Partnership, Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas and the Wichita Independent Business Association on October 27. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall was a guest during the presentation and spoke to the efforts to stem the flow of fentanyl at the federal level.
Fentanyl began to infiltrate the region in 2018 and has now replaced methamphetamine as the most popular illegal drug in the community, Easter said.
“Of the almost 300 drug-related deaths in 2021, more than half were fentanyl related,” Easter said. So far in 2022, more than 30 deaths have been confirmed as fentanyl-related, however, Easter expects those numbers to be much higher because it takes 6 months to get the results back on toxicology reports for drug-related deaths.
Fentanyl is a very powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Originally developed to help cancer patients manage their pain, the drug is frequently mixed into other drugs such as heroin, cocaine and marijuana to increase their potency. It can be in powder or pills designed to look like prescription medication.
It creates an intense high when ingested. Easter said a reduction in an employee’s work product, an increase in absences and excuses for under-performing, lethargy and difficulty having a conversation are signs of possible drug use.
“We’re asking for your help as employers because the traditional methods of getting the word out aren’t good enough,” Easter said. “You may encounter this problem in your business with your employees or their children.”
Easter suggested businesses obtain narcan, a medication that can be used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, to add to their first aid supplies in case an employee has an overdose at work.
The sheriff shared the following action steps:
- Have an employee meeting & share the information from the presentation
- Put articles or videos in employee newsletters
- Post banners and posters in your workplace available from Sedgwick County Communications
Sharon Van Horn with the Wichita Metro Crime Commission said there is a guaranteed $2,500 reward from Crime Stoppers for any tip that leads to the arrest of a fentanyl wholesale dealer.
For more information, check out the following resources:
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