Wichita Group Provides Narcan to Over 65 Businesses

The Industry Initiative Project aims to combat the growing fentanyl crisis by equipping local businesses with overdose prevention tools.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:48am

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A translucent X-ray photograph revealing the internal structure of a Narcan medication bottle, its glowing lines and shapes against a dark background conceptually representing the critical role of this overdose reversal drug.An X-ray view of the life-saving Narcan medication, a critical tool in the fight against the growing opioid crisis.Wichita Today

The Safe Streets Wichita group has launched the Industry Initiative Project, which provides Narcan and overdose response training to over 65 businesses in the Wichita area. The program also distributes drink spiking test kits and educates employees on how to recognize and respond to different types of overdoses.

Why it matters

The fentanyl crisis has been devastating communities across the United States, and Wichita is no exception. By proactively equipping local businesses with Narcan and overdose awareness training, the Safe Streets Wichita group is taking a crucial step to reduce stigma, save lives, and empower the community to respond effectively to this public health emergency.

The details

The Industry Initiative Project supplies Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, to Wichita-area businesses that are considered potential hotspots for overdoses. In addition to the Narcan, some locations also receive drink spiking test kits. The group also provides training to employees on how to recognize the differences between stimulant and depressant overdoses, as Narcan is only effective for opioid-related incidents.

  • The Industry Initiative Project was launched in early 2026.

The players

Safe Streets Wichita

A local group in Wichita, Kansas that is working to combat the opioid crisis by providing Narcan and overdose response training to businesses in the community.

Morgan Jennings

A representative of Safe Streets Wichita who emphasizes the importance of recognizing different types of overdoses and utilizing the appropriate resources.

Mariela Celin-Ruiz

A server at Pumphouse restaurant who became motivated to spread awareness about overdoses after the loss of a classmate, and is grateful for the Narcan provided through the Industry Initiative Project.

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What they’re saying

“You can overdose on stimulants or depressants, but they look differently, and Narcan only works on opioid overdoses. So it's important to know the difference so you know if you can give naloxone or not.”

— Morgan Jennings, Representative, Safe Streets Wichita

“We have been set up for failure to combat the opioid crisis if we're not talking about it and we're not utilizing the supplies and resources we have.”

— Morgan Jennings, Representative, Safe Streets Wichita

“I just was like, this is harming my peers, and obviously peers weren't gonna listen to teachers. So I just thought, they're going to listen to me, a peer and a friend, so I just started spreading awareness.”

— Mariela Celin-Ruiz, Server, Pumphouse restaurant

“I am very grateful for it because someone might not think that it happens or it won't ever happen, but you never know, and it's just safe knowing that it's somewhere within reach.”

— Mariela Celin-Ruiz, Server, Pumphouse restaurant

What’s next

The Safe Streets Wichita group plans to continue expanding the Industry Initiative Project to reach more businesses in the Wichita area, providing them with Narcan, drink spiking test kits, and overdose response training.

The takeaway

By proactively equipping local businesses with overdose prevention resources and education, the Safe Streets Wichita group is taking a community-based approach to addressing the fentanyl crisis and reducing stigma around Narcan use. This model could be replicated in other cities struggling with the opioid epidemic.