{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-discusses-fentanyl-epidemic-local-health-care-workers", "Davids Discusses Fentanyl Epidemic with Local Health Care Workers", "2025-07-01", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", "davids", "https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "OVERLAND PARK, KS \u2013 Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined local health care workers and law enforcement officials for another summit regarding the growing threat of fentanyl, the number one cause of overdose deaths in the United States. The group discussed the challenges health care workers face when caring for fentanyl-related overdose patients and how Davids can better support their work in Congress.\n\n\"The fentanyl crisis is a public health emergency \u2014 both here in Kansas and across the country \u2014 and our health care workers and first responders are on the front lines every day saving lives,\" said Davids. \"Thanks in part to their tireless efforts, we\u2019re finally starting to see a decline in overdose deaths. But even one life lost is one too many. Today\u2019s conversation was eye-opening and reaffirmed my commitment to listening, learning, and fighting for the tools Kansans need to stay safe.\"\n\nRep. Sharice Davids speaking on the fentanyl crisis at St. Luke\u2019s Hospital\n\nFentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times stronger than morphine, is increasingly found in fake prescription pills such as Vicodin, OxyContin, or 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\u2019 health through continued action in Congress.\n\nDavids, 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:\n\nJoining a bipartisan group of lawmakers to request funding for new handheld mass spectrometry trace-level chemical detection devices at domestic ports.\n\nUrging the FDA to take up expert recommendations and make Narcan, a common naloxone nasal spray, available without a prescription \u2014 which they did earlier this year.\n\nSecuring 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.\n\nVoting 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.\n\nHelping 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 that was unknowingly laced with fentanyl.\n\nPushing for expanded federal grant opportunities, so law enforcement and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) can easily acquire life-saving naloxone kits.\n\nVisiting the Port of Long Beach to see how the port uses state-of-the-art technologies to prevent harmful substances \u2014 like fentanyl \u2014 from entering the country illegally.\n\nSummit attendees included health care and public health representatives from AdventHealth, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Elizabeth Layton Center, Franklin County Public Health, Johnson County Emergency Medical Services (MED-ACT), Johnson County Mental Health, Kansas City Kansas Fire Department, Kansas City Kansas Police Department, Miami County Health Department, Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA), Saint Luke's Health System, The University of Kansas Health System, and Wyandotte County Health Department.\n\nCommunity members looking to learn more about how to keep their families safe can visit the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration\u2019s Kansas City-focused website. Resources and prevention services for individuals, families, schools, and others are available.\n\nWhat they\u2019re saying:\n\n\u201cIn Miami County, we are working closely with local partners through our mental health initiative to address substance use and overdose prevention in a comprehensive, community-driven way,\u201d said Christena Beer, Public Health Director, Miami County. \u201cWe are utilizing opioid settlement funds to support allowable abatement strategies focused on coordinated care, early intervention, and public health education. These efforts are critical in reducing the harms of fentanyl and supporting long-term recovery across the communities we serve.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom distributing naloxone to raising awareness through the You Never Know campaign, the Johnson County Prevention and Recovery Coalition has played a critical role in our community\u2019s fight against the fentanyl crisis,\u201d said Tim DeWeese, Director, Johnson County Mental Health Center. \u201cTheir work is a powerful example of the impact a coordinated response can have on efforts to save lives. We look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Davids and all our partners to reduce overdose and poisoning deaths in Johnson County and Kansas.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs caregivers, our fundamental responsibility is the wellbeing of our patients and the larger community,\u201d said Dr. Jennifer Elliott, chair of Saint Luke\u2019s Opioid Stewardship Program and medical director of Saint Luke\u2019s Pain Management Clinic. \u201cThrough Saint Luke\u2019s Opioid Stewardship Program, we provide needed resources and education and have implemented measures to ensure we are good stewards of these prescriptions. We are committed to continue raising awareness on this important issue and working together on a solution with Rep. Davids and others in our community.\u201d\n\n\u201cEmergency Medical Services witnesses firsthand the devastating impact of the opioid crisis on our communities,\u201d said Adiel Garcia, Division Chief \u2013 Education & Integrated Healthcare, Johnson County Department of Emergency Services. \u201cJohnson County MED-ACT is responding with evidence-based care, including expanded use of naloxone, proactive community outreach, and partnerships with treatment providers. We are committed not just to saving lives in the moment, but to being part of a long-term solution that connects patients to the help they need through follow-ups, referrals, and wrap around services.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepresentative Davids\u2019 commitment to combating the fentanyl crisis and protecting our communities is deeply appreciated by the entire law enforcement community,\u201d said Daniel W. Neill, Executive Director, Midwest HIDTA. \u201cHer strong support for the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area in Kansas ensures that state, local, tribal, and federal agencies can continue working together to save lives, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and disrupt the flow of fentanyl into our region. Her advocacy for sustained HIDTA funding reflects a clear understanding that collaboration \u2014 not fragmentation \u2014 is the key to turning the tide against this epidemic.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Kansas City Kansas Fire Department is very pleased that Representative Sharice Davids is keeping all public safety agencies focused on continuing the fight against the illegal distribution and use of fentanyl,\u201d said Dennis L. Rubin, Fire Chief, Kansas City Kansas Fire Department. \u201cThe misuse of fentanyl usually comes with a heavy price tag. The KCKFD Fire Department responds to emergency calls for help involving this powerful drug almost daily. More often than not, the person or people in trouble are the youth of this community. The KCKFD is proud to work alongside of the Congress Member Davids to work toward eradicating this emerging community crisis.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-discusses-fentanyl-epidemic-local-health-care-workers"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.1876459941267967, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}