About the Taskforce

The El Dorado Opioid Taskforce was formed in 2023 in response to the City of El Dorado receiving Municipalities Fight Addiction Fund (MFAF) dollars. Kansas has worked to address the opioid problem by reaching multiple legal settlements and bringing accountability to major pharmaceutical companies, distributors and related firms that fueled the addiction crisis. These dollars are provided to the city to tackle the opioid crisis through prevention and education, harm reduction initiatives, and access to treatment and recovery resources.

Members of the task force include individuals from education, law enforcement, mental health, public health, substance use prevention, emergency services, youth, etc.

For more information on the Kansas Fights Addiction Program and MFAF dollars, go to - https://sunflowerfoundation.org/kansas-fights-addiction/

Our Work

· Town hall Meetings to raise awareness on the opioid issue in Butler County.

· Media/Awareness Campaign – coming soon!

Data

Drug Overdose is now the leading cause of injury death in the U.S.

In 2021, 107,622 lives were lost in the United States due to a drug overdose. This is an average of nearly 295 people per day. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18-45. (DOJ Website)

Of this total, approximately 66% of overdose deaths were attributable to opioids.
The increase in drug overdose deaths is being driven by illicit fentanyl. It is the most dangerous drug threat facing our nation.
Illicit fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that is being mixed into heroin, cocaine, and other street drugs.

BUTLER COUNTY

From 2012 to 2021, there were 106 drug poisoning deaths in Butler County with All Drug overdoses as a contributing cause of death. On average, this equates to 16.93 deaths per 100,000 persons, per year over the 10-year period (95% CI 13.82 to 20.57). (KDHE Overdose Data Dashboard)