Kansas school districts, police departments work together to combat fentanyl use

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Stopping fentanyl use in colleges is one difficulty which unites lawmakers, police departments and everybody else.

“Now we’re seeing a number of violent crime tied to fentanyl, fentanyl distribution,” mentioned Chief Karl Oakman of the Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, Police Division.

Kansas Rep. Jake LaTurner informed a U.S. Home Committee Wednesday a few Lansing Excessive Faculty teenager who died this college yr from an fentanyl overdose.

“Over the previous few years, Kansas has seen a 73% enhance in fentanyl overdoses, one of many highest within the nation,” LaTurner mentioned.

Faculty districts are working to kind partnerships to battle the drug’s use.

“The large factor is we’re working with USD 500,” Oakman mentioned.

Oakman says they may companion with the Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, Faculty District particularly to fight fentanyl and intently investigating fentanyl overdose.

“Now we have observed a rise there,” Oakman mentioned.

“We’re partnering with KCKPD as a result of fentanyl points exceed our capabilities and assets,” in accordance to a college district spokesperson.

The chief says their work within the college district is one a part of their crime discount plan.

“Simply the way in which we’ve aggressively attacked it in 2022, we’ve already seen a few of our violent crime numbers go down,” he mentioned.

In February, Lawrence police, FBI brokers and faculty officers talked about fentanyl use to greater than 3,000 college students and neighborhood members at college occasions and assemblies.

In 2020, Lawrence police mentioned 20% of its deadly overdoses have been on account of fentanyl, however the share of deaths blamed on fentanyl overdoses soared to 94.1% of deadly overdoses in 2021.

In 2022, the variety of deadly overdoses blamed on fentanyl dropped to 85.7 %.

Lawrence police consider the quantity dipped due to continued fentanyl training.

“Prevention begins within the house and it continues within the college, nevertheless it takes vigilance, not solely from us, however from you, too,” mentioned Corp. Amaury Collado, a Lawrence Police Division Faculty Useful resource Officer.

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