New resources available in Manhattan to help fight drug overdoses

MANHATTAN (KSNT) – A Manhattan hospital is sharing more products with the community to prevent a drug overdose.

A new bin containing items to help fight a fentanyl overdose is now located in the emergency department entrance of Ascension Via Christi. This bin is available to anyone who needs it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

This bin contains fentanyl test strips, Narcan nasal spray and treatment resources to assist people with seeking addiction treatment. 

“Kansas is no different than the rest of the country,” said Kevin Oehme, director of Pharmacy at Ascension Via Christi. “We are seeing increases in overdose rates. And I really think that trying to get past that stigma and let people know that there’s help out there. Obviously, the Narcan is an acute treatment to help them right now, but then we also want to set them up with the ability to help them long-term as well.”

The box opened a little more than a week ago and has already been restocked. Oehme says it’s nice to see people grabbing what they need from the bin. 

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