By Betsy Webster
Published: Jun. 28, 2022 at 10:12 PM CDT
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - A DEA campaign intended to decrease overdose deaths from counterfeit fentanyl pills has arrived in Kansas City, Kansas. It’s one of just 11 cities nationwide where the federal Drug Enforcement Agency is conducting community panel discussions. The first in KCK happened Tuesday night at Kansas City, Kansas, Community College. Sobering data about fentanyl poisoning nationwide shows that, in 2020 and 2021, it was the leading cause of death for people aged 18 to 45. In 2021, it killed nearly twice as many people in that age group as car wrecks, according to an independent analysis of CDC data performed by the myth-busting website Snopes.com. That’s why the DEA in March of last year began something called “Operation Engage.” It’s meant to engage people in an effort to save lives.