Image: Rep. Sharice Davids speaking on the fentanyl crisis at St. Luke’s Hospital/Image courtesy Davids office

Rep. Sharice Davids recently met with local health care workers and law enforcement to talk about the growing threat of fentanyl—the leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S. The group discussed the difficulties hospitals face when treating fentanyl-related overdoses and how Rep. Davids can help support their work in Congress.

Fentanyl is a man-made opioid that is up to 100 times stronger than morphine. It’s often found in fake pills that look like common medications such as Vicodin or Adderall. Although overdose deaths dropped by 24% from September 2023 to September 2024, Rep. Davids says there’s still more work to do to keep communities safe.

As a member of the bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus, Rep. Davids has supported funding for law enforcement tools, pushed for wider access to naloxone (Narcan), and helped launch a national awareness campaign about the dangers of fake pills. She also helped secure a $16 million grant to fight drug trafficking and expand prevention efforts.

The summit included representatives from hospitals, health departments, emergency services, and law enforcement. For information on how to stay safe, residents can visit the DEA’s Kansas City website.