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Updated 06/18/2024 - KRPS 89.9 FM is fully operational, broadcasting at 100,000 watts

Pittsburg State is One of Several Kansas Colleges and Universities to Make Narcan Available  at No Cost

KRPS | By Fred Fletcher-Fierro
Published August 23, 2024 at 5:00 AM CDT
Christine Tait

Unlike larger states such as California, there is no mandate from the Kansas Legislature that require campuses to have the opioid overdose-reversing drug on campus however several have installed Naloxone overdose kits.

As the 2024 Spring Semester was wrapping up Pittsburg State police made an important addition to campus, 25 NARCAN boxes and 62 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the event of an emergency.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show overdose deaths involving opioids decreased from an estimated 84,181 in 2022 to 81,083 in 2023. While overdose deaths from synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, cocaine and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine) increased.

Regardless of the slight decline in death due to opioids in recent years, roughly 222 Americans die daily of an opioid overdose.

On the season premiere of the Crimson & Gold Connection KRPS Senior Announcer Matthew Witt spoke with Pittsburg State Police Assistant Director Steve Rosebrough about why it's important college campuses have Narcan kits and how it works.

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Fred Fletcher-Fierro
Since 2017 Fred Fletcher-Fierro has driven up Highway 171 through thunderstorms, downpours, snow, and ice storms to host KRPS’s Morning Edition. He’s also a daily reporter for the station, covering city government, elections, public safety, arts, entertainment, culture, sports and more. Fred has also spearheaded and overseen a sea change in programming for KRPS from a legacy classical station to one that airs a balance of classical, news, jazz, and cultural programming that better reflects the diverse audience of the Four States. For over two months in the fall of 2022 he worked remotely with NPR staff to relaunch krps.org to an NPR style news and information website.

In the fall of 2023 Fred was promoted to Interim General Manager and was appointed GM in Feburary of 2024.
See stories by Fred Fletcher-Fierro