Current:Home > Contact-usKansas City to hire 2 overdose investigators in face of rising fentanyl deaths-InfoLens
Kansas City to hire 2 overdose investigators in face of rising fentanyl deaths
View Date:2024-12-23 10:27:03
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City will hire overdose investigators as part the Missouri city’s effort to lower the number of fentanyl deaths.
An ordinance passed Thursday by the city council allows the city health department to hire two investigators and requires overdoses to be reported within 24 hours, the Kansas City Star reported. The health department now has access to overdose data that sometimes is up to two years old.
A Kansas City police official told the newspaper that the agency has confiscated more than 61,000 grams (about 134 pounds) of fentanyl so far this year, and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said there was a suspected overdose every day but one in 2022 in Kansas City emergency rooms.
“Overdose deaths are at an epidemic level in Kansas City and fentanyl is driving the epidemic,” Lucas said. “Overdose death numbers surpassed our homicide numbers in 2021.”
The new ordinance also calls for the creation of a review board tasked with reviewing real-time data on overdoses to get a better handle on the issue and figure out ways to help.
Lucas said the board will include family members of overdose victims.
veryGood! (52561)
Related
- American arrested in death of another American at luxury hotel in Ireland
- Florida mom of 10 year old who shot, killed neighbor to stand trial for manslaughter
- When are the Emmy Awards? What to know about the host, 2024 nominees and predicted winners
- Walmart experiments with AI to enhance customers’ shopping experiences
- Man is 'not dead anymore' after long battle with IRS, which mistakenly labeled him deceased
- AI-powered misinformation is the world’s biggest short-term threat, Davos report says
- No charges to be filed in death of toddler who fell into cistern during day care at Vermont resort
- As the Senate tries to strike a border deal with Mayorkas, House GOP launches effort to impeach him
- Kentucky woman seeking abortion files lawsuit over state bans
- Record-breaking cold threatens to complicate Iowa’s leadoff caucuses as snowy weather cancels events
Ranking
- NASCAR Cup Series Championship race 2024: Start time, TV, live stream, odds, lineup
- Nebraska upsets No. 1 Purdue, which falls in early Big Ten standings hole
- Human remains believed to belong to woman missing since 1985 found in car in Miami canal
- Migrant families begin leaving NYC hotels as first eviction notices kick in
- Skiing legend Lindsey Vonn ends retirement, plans to return to competition
- Product recall: Over 80,000 Homedics personal massagers recalled over burn and fire risk
- A legal battle is set to open at the top UN court over an allegation of Israeli genocide in Gaza
- Shanna Moakler Accuses Ex Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian of Parenting Alienation
Recommendation
-
Atmospheric river to bring heavy snow, rain to Northwest this week
-
Tupac Shakur murder suspect bail set, can serve house arrest ahead of trial
-
Apple is sending out payments to iPhone owners impacted by batterygate. Here's what they are getting.
-
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu pledges to make it easier for homeowners to create accessory housing units
-
Noem’s Cabinet appointment will make a plain-spoken rancher South Dakota’s new governor
-
'A sense of relief:' Victims' families get justice as police identify VA. man in 80s slayings
-
Walmart experiments with AI to enhance customers' shopping experiences
-
Coach Erik Spoelstra reaches record-setting extension with Miami Heat, per report