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500 dead and counting from fentanyl as Wichita struggles to curb overdoses

Under Wichita’s towering landmark, the Keeper of the Plains, a group of grieving Wichitans gathered at dusk, lighting candles for loved ones lost to fentanyl.  Among the dozens of mourners at the recent memorial were Mark and Val Sandoval, who lost their son just weeks before his high school graduation after he took a single…

FDA has approved over-the-counter Narcan. What does that mean for Wichita?

Wichita harm-reduction activists are hopeful the Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to sell Narcan, a brand of nasal spray naloxone, without a prescription over-the-counter will make the drug more accessible to people who need it – but when and how it might be available is not yet clear. The activists routinely distribute thousands of…

‘Storm of Addiction’ Part 2: Sober and ready to fight

This is the second part of a two-part series. Read the first part here: “How a Kansas woman emerged from the storm of addiction to fight fentanyl.” This story contains references to drug use, addiction and overdose. When Ashley Alexander found her fiance, Dustin Gotham, lying on the bathroom floor with a needle in his…

Uninsured? A free colon cancer screening is available

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Kansas, behind lung cancer. Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about one in 23 for men and one in 26 for women. However, each person’s risk might be higher or lower, depending on their risk factors. The American Cancer Society recommends…

Medicaid expansion in Kansas: What to know, how we got here and what’s next

Update as of March 14, 2023:  In February, Democratic lawmakers introduced two bills, SB 225 and HB 2415, that propose expanding Medicaid eligibility in Kansas. Both bills have stalled since they were introduced, with no movement so far from legislative leadership.  On March 31, a pandemic measure that prevented states from removing people from Medicaid…

KanCare 101: How to apply for Medicaid benefits in Kansas

In any given month, about 450,000 Kansans rely on Medicaid to pay for health care. The program is paid for by the federal government with states providing a match and administering the program. As with any assistance program, it can be difficult to determine if you qualify. Who qualifies depends on many factors, only one…

Las muertes por sobredosis de drogas causadas por el fentanilo se están disparando en Wichita. Esto es lo que usted necesita saber.

Esta historia fue traducida por Claudia Yaujar-Amaro. Esta historia también está disponible en ingles. Lea aquí  En los últimos cuatro años, el número de personas que murieron por sobredosis de drogas anualmente en el condado de Sedgwick se duplicó, un aumento dramático atribuido casi en su totalidad a las muertes por fentanilo. Es un problema reciente…

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