By Rhys Baker

The opioid public health emergency is affecting Americans of all ages; racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities; income classes; and geographic areas. The Clay Counts Coalition has recently received a grant from the Kansas Department of Education to address the needs of those most likely to be at risk, Drug Endangered Children in Kansas (DECK). Clay Counts Coalition Coordinator Lori Martin says, “Chaos and vulnerability are two serious problems drug-endangered children experience. In addition, when children experience drug use in their homes, it puts them at risk for addiction, mental health issues and challenges, and physical illnesses due to stress.” The $50K grant has supported several initiatives in Clay County to address these problems and risks, including The Red Balloon, Drug Endangered Children Day, Drug Take Back Day, The Project, Red Backpack, The Teammates mentoring program, and the distribution of Narcan.

The coalition has started strategizing how to teach others about what to do in an opioid overdose or even an exposure. Coordinator Martin says, “It doesn’t mean you have taken fentanyl at all, we are all vulnerable to fentanyl exposure, the way street drugs are being produced, fentanyl is a popular choice because it is super super cheap, is more likely to give you a buzz and is highly addictive.” Martin continued to say that she thinks about people who handle trash or are picking up litter from the side of the road. Drugs like fentanyl can be absorbed through skin contact, making exposure a real possibility.

If opioid exposure is suspected, anyone can use Narcan in an emergency with signs of breathing problems and severe sleepiness or inability to respond. The Clay Counts Coalition has free Narcan doses available to anyone who requests it. The grant does require Martin to teach community members how to use the product before distribution. The packaging of the product also includes easy-to-follow instructions.