The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 50 COVID patients today, up from 49 Friday. Other significant numbers:
- 27 with the active virus today, 28 Friday
- 3 in ICU, 4 Friday
- 1 on ventilators, 1 Friday
- 23 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 21 Friday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Roopa Sethi, psychiatrist and medical director The University of Kansas Health System addiction clinic
- There is an epidemic of young people thinking they are buying oxycodone pills on the street but instead getting counterfeit pills with fentanyl, which is more potent and deadly
- Many adolescents have died from this
- In the last several months, have seen an increase in patients 15 and above needing treatment
- Schools are stocking Naloxone, which is a lifesaving medication from someone suffering a drug poisoning or overdose. Households with someone at risk should keep it as well.
- Dispose of prescription pain medications when finished with them, but do not flush them down the toilet. The medicine could get into the soil or groundwater.
- Stress to your children the dangers of medications bought on the street since there is no way to know their potency
- Described the many medications approved for opioid addiction
Dr. Mitchell Douglass, medical director of The University of Kansas Health System Marillac Campus
- Seeing an increased number of kids with dual diagnosis: depression with suicidal thoughts and addiction
- Shocking how quickly the kids say they became addicted and how hard it is to deal with the cravings even after treatment has begun
- Most want to get sober but they don’t know how because their brains have been fundamentally altered by the illicit drugs
- The drugs we’re seeing now are different from the drugs of 10 or 20 years ago
- Those who say drug use isn’t happening at their kids’ school are wrong. It’s happening at all schools, both rural and suburban
- Narcan saves lives. It does not promote substance abuse.
Sergeant Jake Becchina, KCMO Police
- Important to distinguish between drug poisoning and drug overdose
- Drug poisoning is when someone takes what they think is one drug like oxycodone or Percocet but turns out to be something else more potent and potentially deadly like fentanyl. Drug overdose is accidently or on purpose taking too much of a substance.
- Police drug investigators are not as concerned by individual users as they are of the major suppliers of illegal narcotics
- Number one way drug dealers are finding young customers is through social media
- Twice a year KC Police offer a drug takeback event for safe disposal of unused prescription medication
- Believes the pandemic has played a big role in the trafficking and abuse of fake prescriptions
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Believes the number of COVID cases at the health system has plateaued and has been consistent for the past few weeks
- Discussed JAMA article on whether you are still infectious after five days of COVID and whether you still need to wear a mask.
- Discussed Dr. Fauci’s warning that those who are not fully vaccinated and boosted will be in trouble with the B.A. 5 variant
- Believes it’s “sad and tragic” that only 4-5 percent of kids under 5 are getting the COVID vaccine
Wednesday, August 10 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Open Mics With Dr. Stites. Nature is filled with beauty...and snakes too! Five million people are bitten each year worldwide. We’ll show you how to protect yourself.
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.
