In 2020, there were 477 drug overdose deaths in Kansas. Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention project an increase in drug overdose fatalities in 2021. In response, The Kansas Prescription Drug and Opioid Advisory Committee is developing a new strategic plan to reduce fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses.

The Kansas Prescription Drug and Opioid Advisory Committee is a multidisciplinary group composed of state agencies, health systems, professional associations, community-based organizations, public safety organizations, among others. The committee is facilitated by DCCCA, Inc., and supported by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The first iteration of the Kansas Prescription Drug and Opioid Misuse and Overdose Strategic Plan was published in July 2018. The goal of the original plan was to develop and implement interventions to decrease prescription and illegal opioid misuse, dependence, and overdose in Kansas. Kansas’s current strategic plan may be accessed here: www.preventoverdoseks.org.

The Kansas Prescription Drug and Opioid Advisory Committee is seeking input from Kansas residents for the next iteration of the statewide strategic plan. The Committee urges Kansans to complete this brief survey and share widely among family and friends. Survey results will be used to assess needs, identify priority areas, and better understand the public’s perspective on drug overdose as a public health problem.

“As a State, we must devise a comprehensive, coordinated approach to fight this debilitating, ever-evolving epidemic,” said Lori Alvarado, CEO of DCCCA. “Kansas residents are the key stakeholders in this project. Engaging the public in this effort ensures that different perspectives are reflected in the strategic planning process.”

The online survey may be accessed until July 1, 2022 and is available here.