JUNCTION CITY, KS — Local health officials are alerting the public about a dangerous drug called purple fentanyl that has been found in Junction City.
According to Konza Prairie Community Health Center this drug is much stronger than regular fentanyl and has been mixed with other chemicals that make it harder to treat in an emergency. That means Narcan, the medicine used to reverse opioid overdoses, doesn’t always work. People overdosing on purple fentanyl may need several doses of Narcan—or even hospital care—to survive.
What You Should Do – Community Safety Steps
- Call 911 immediately if you suspect someone has overdosed (unresponsive, slow or no breathing, blue lips or fingertips)
- Carry Narcan: Free Narcan is available during business hours at Konza Prairie Community Health Center clinics:
- Junction City – 361 Grant Ave
- Manhattan – 222 N 6th
- Always attempt Narcan in suspected or unknown overdose – While it may not be as effective against resistant drugs, it can still save lives in many cases; Tell first responders if Narcan is not working as expected.
- Test Substances – Use fentanyl test strips to check for contamination; Fentanyl test strips are available free in Narcan vending machines at Konza Prairie Community Health Center.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment Available at Konza Prairie Community Health Center
Konza Prairie Community Health Center offers local outpatient addiction treatment services, with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid, alcohol, and methamphetamine use disorders. Services are available even if you don’t have insurance, and telehealth options are also offered.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call 785-238-4711, ext. 0322 to schedule an appointment or visit www.kpchc.org to learn more. Patients can often be scheduled within 24-48 hours.
Dr. Dustie Samuels is the Konza medical director and treats patients in Junction City and Manhattan. “We want people to know that help is available,” she said, “and it’s important to seek treatment before it’s too late.”
Konza partners with CKF Addiction Treatment to provide peer mentor services and free Narcan dispensers in their Junction City and Manhattan Clinics. Peer mentors provide valuable support for patients accessing addiction treatment services.
“This drug is a serious threat to our community,” says Patricia Pearson-Leonard, CKF Peer Mentor at Konza Prairie Community Health Center.
“We’re seeing increasingly dangerous fentanyl variants in our communities, and that means we have to double down on prevention and response,” says Michaela Loxterman, CKF Vice President of Medical Integration. “By partnering with Konza Prairie Community Health Center to provide Narcan access, we’re sending a clear message that every life is worth saving, and every second matters.”