Overdoses are spiking in Wichita. What’s behind that?

Opioids appear to be the primary substance behind an overdose spike in Wichita, according to scene and emergency department data provided by the CDC Foundation.

Last weekend, there were 29 suspected overdoses, with 17 on Sunday alone.

Another spike followed shortly after the weekend, with 15 suspected overdoses.

Thursday, first responders reported one person had died and three others were in critical condition after suspected overdoses at a southwest Wichita home.

“When clusters like this occur, the cause is often a change in the local drug supply, such as a batch with higher potency or an unknown adulterant,” said DJ Gering, public health analyst with the CDC Foundation’s Overdose Response Strategy program.

Further testing from the Regional Forensic Science Center has yet to be completed. That could help determine the kinds of opioids and possible other substances that are present in the supply.

The center cannot yet say how many overdoses resulted in fatalities in the last week. Testing is still being completed.

“Testing for both Drug ID and toxicology cases can take several weeks to complete,” Sedgwick County said in a statement to The Eagle.

Gering noted that suspected overdoses are still declining in the county.

“Despite this week’s spike, Sedgwick County data shows suspected overdoses are actually down 13.6% compared to this time last year,” he said.

The cause of suspected overdoses is shifting, though, with methamphetamine making a comeback in the county and state.

“One notable shift: Opioids and methamphetamine are now contributing nearly equally to both fatal and non-fatal suspected overdoses in the county,” Gering said. “This is a significant change from 2021 through 2023, when opioid-related overdoses and deaths far outnumbered those involving meth.”

The Wichita Police Department said that its investigators and overdose analyst “will be looking into these cases to determine whether there is criminality or non-criminality involved.”

Community group responds

On Thursday morning, volunteers, community members and elected officials filtered in and out of Safe Streets’ office in response.

Safe Streets provides free naloxone, a lifesaving opioid-reversal medication, and other resources.

Since Wednesday, they’ve distributed hundreds of naloxone kits that include the medication, along with fentanyl test strips, through local delivery and their free mail order program.

On a normal day, Safe Streets said they receive three to six requests for mail orders.

“I think that the recent spike… is why there’s so many [orders] in Wichita,” outreach director Cat Butler said. “This past week is crazy.”

While naloxone works to reverse opioid overdoses, Safe Streets said it’s still important to carry naloxone if someone is suspected of overdosing on other substances.

“There’s no guarantee that whatever stimulant you’re taking isn’t cut with fentanyl,” Butler said. “A very popular one is cocaine. Most people’s cocaine is cut with fentanyl.

“Even if you’re wrong and you Narcan someone who ends up being on a stimulant, there’s no negative consequence of that. Nothing will happen to them.”