Oklahoma
Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs partnering up to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths
ARDMORE, Okla. (KXII) – Between 2018 and 2022, more than a thousand people accidentally overdosed and died from fentanyl in Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, or DMH, to give the kids they work with access to more resources.
The partnership aims to reduce fatal overdoses in kids in the juvenile system.
Two Oklahoma teenagers involved with the juvenile system overdosed and died in December, part of a growing national trend.
“Kids involved with the juvenile justice system are at a higher risk of not only substance use but also substance misuse,” OJA Director of Behavioral Health Shel Millington said.
Because of that increased risk, the OJA’s group homes, transitional homes, and juvenile centers are receiving packages of Naloxone, a lifesaving drug that can stop and reverse an opioid overdose, and testing kits.
The DMH also trained OJA staff on how to use Naloxone and the test strips, and the dangers of fentanyl.
Part of why overdoses are increasing is because fentanyl is popping up more and more in street drugs-like cocaine, meth, fake pills and even weed.
“Young people and individuals at large may not know that fentanyl is in what they’re going to use,” Millington said.
Since 2021, the OKDMHSAS has given out of test strips and Naloxone, according to a press release.
But the program isn’t just for kids in the juvenile system.
Out of the 1,137 accidental fentanyl overdose deaths in a four-year span, 149 of them were children and adults younger than 24.
A warning sign that someone may be overdosing on fentanyl is if they pass out and can’t be woken up.
Anyone in Oklahoma can order Naloxone, also known as Narcan, and fentanyl test strips from their website okimready.org.
“The guidance has been to utilize the Narcan if there’s been a question or concern that there might have been a fentanyl overdose because the Narcan is not harmful,” Millington said.
If you don’t want to order it, there are also vending machines popping up around Oklahoma with the test strips and Naloxone inside. So far the only one in Southern Oklahoma is at the Durant library.
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Oklahoma
The Spring adds immersive walkthrough to annual Encounter Hope gala in Sand Springs, Oklahoma
TULSA, OKLA. (KTUL) — A Tulsa-based nonprofit is adding an immersive, walkthrough experience to its annual fundraising gala, aiming to give attendees a closer look at what survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking face — and how support services can help.
The Spring, which provides services to people impacted by domestic violence and human trafficking, will feature the walkthrough as part of Encounter Hope, its annual gala set for April 9 at the Arvest Convention Center.
The experience is designed to guide guests through the story of an abuse survivor across four stages of interaction with The Spring: the inciting incident, the crisis call, time at the emergency crisis shelter, and moving into safety.
“The idea is really to put you in the shoes of the people that we serve every day,” Allison Wells,
The Spring’s events and environments coordinator, said. “It’s easy to throw out stats about violence and trafficking in Oklahoma, throw out our service numbers each year, but these are really peoples’ lives. We want to put our attendees in the mindset of one person, one story. What would you do if you were facing this?”
After the walkthrough, attendees will have the opportunity to assemble move-in kits for The Spring’s shelter guests and write personal notes of encouragement.
The program portion of the evening will include a panel discussion hosted by Karen Larsen, an Emmy Award-winning journalist who anchored Tulsa’s Channel 2 for almost 30 years.
“Tulsa is an incredibly charitable city, and we know that these kinds of gala events aren’t rare here,” Leslie Clingenpeel, The Spring’s CEO, said. “Our goal is to go beyond the model of these fundraising-only type events. More than anything, we want people to understand what we do, to know that we’re here, to know what our frontline advocates are doing every single day. Domestic violence and trafficking are hard to look away from once you’re aware of them. We want to build that awareness to the people of this city.”
Individual tickets and table packages are available for purchase.
Attendees are encouraged to register before April 1 because space is limited.
More details and purchasing information are available at www.thespringok.org/encounterhope.
The Spring is a Tulsa-based nonprofit offering services to those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
The organization provides emergency crisis shelter, transitional living, and non-residential services.
More information is available at www.thespringok.org.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next
The Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball bounced back in a big way Tuesday night.
Anthony Roy scored 27 points and Kanye Clary added 23, including seven in overtime, as Oklahoma State defeated the UCF Knights men’s basketball 111-104 in Orlando.
The Cowboys controlled the extra period, finishing overtime on an 11-4 run and outscoring UCF 17-10.
Clary played a major role in closing it out. He hit a key 3-pointer and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in overtime to help seal the win.
The victory moves Oklahoma State to 18-12 overall and 6-11 in the Big 12, and gives the Cowboys two wins in their last three games after snapping a five-game losing streak. UCF, now 20-9 (9-8 Big 12), has dropped two straight.
Roy and Clary led a balanced offensive effort. Jaylen Curry and Christian Coleman each added 16 points, while the Cowboys shot 49% from the field (35-of-72) and 80% from the free throw line (32-of-40).
Themus Fulks led UCF with 22 points, while Riley Kugel added 18.
Late-game drama forces overtime
The final seconds of regulation were chaotic.
With 24 seconds remaining, Isaiah Coleman threw down a dunk to give Oklahoma State a 94-91 lead.
But UCF answered quickly when Chris Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left, tying the game at 94-94.
Oklahoma State had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Jaylen Curry missed a shot, and John Bol blocked Roy’s attempt, sending the game to overtime.
Cowboys respond after tough loss
The Cowboys showed resilience after Saturday’s lopsided loss to Cincinnati.
The team traveled directly to Orlando following that defeat and was pushed through two intense practices by head coach Steve Lutz and the coaching staff.
The response was clear.
Led by Roy’s scoring and Clary’s clutch overtime performance, Oklahoma State delivered a gritty win and swept the season series against UCF
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon
YUKON, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma City Police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon Monday night.
The shooting happened near Northwest 10th Street and South Yukon Parkway near the border of Yukon and Oklahoma City.
Police are on the scene, and officials said the victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the hip.
OKCPD said they have at least one person in custody.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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