The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 8 COVID patients today, down from 12 Friday. Other significant numbers:
- 4 with the active virus today, 5 Friday
- 0 in ICU, 0 Friday
- 0 on ventilator, 0 Friday
- 4 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 7 Friday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Mitchell Douglass, Medical Director The University of Kansas Health System Marillac Campus
- He is seeing a strong culture of illicit drug distribution in schools, mostly pills laced with fentanyl
- Fentanyl is a very strong and powerful opiate, 50 times more powerful than morphine and 100 times more powerful than heroin
- Kids are buying them illegally and thinking they are merely taking a Xanax, but many are getting addicted, overdosing and dying
- It’s OK for parents to check their kids’ backpacks and have open conversations about drugs, the same conversations you have on drinking and driving
- Peer pressure and anxiety are two leading causes of fentanyl abuse among teens, some as young as 13
Dr. Elizabeth Silver, Managing Director of the Poison Control Center at The University of Kansas Health System
- Fentanyl is a synthetic, man-made opioid, not made from poppies like most opioids such as morphine. It’s easy to produce.
- Seeing a trend in Poison Control toward abuse of over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl and Robitussin
- Naloxone is an antidote for opioids and everyone who suspects a friend or family member at risk of overdosing should have it on hand. It’s available free without a prescription at Kansas pharmacies.
Sgt. Gary Blackwell, Clay County Sheriff’s Department
- Four Platte County teens recently took over-the-counter medication for a recreational high. That is more typical of what kids are doing, but fentanyl is becoming a bigger problem as more and more are actively seeking that drug.
- The drug available on the street is cheap. The goal of the seller is 100% getting someone hooked and 100% about making money
- Sheriff’s office is actively meeting with community members about what’s being called an epidemic
- Parents need to monitor their kids’ social media accounts and examine backpacks
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Cases and hospitalizations from COVID slowly trending up in the United States, but not to the extent of the delta and omicron surges
- Beginning to research reports that COVID has been deadlier in men because estrogen may play a protective role in women
- Current fentanyl epidemic among teens is much more serious than having a few beers or smoking a cigarette. Peer pressure plays a major role in this life-threatening trend.
- Have open and honest conversations with your teens and explain why taking fentanyl is not safe.
Tuesday, May 24 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. COVID Cases are on the rise once again in the Metro. In fact, one county is seeing a positivity rate in double digits. So will you need to wear a face mask again full time? We dig into the numbers.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
