The Overland Park Police Department is giving residents free naloxone, medication lockboxes and drug disposal kits as part of a harm-reduction push aimed at preventing opioid overdoses.
Any city resident can request the three resources at no cost through the department's Crisis Action Team, known as OPCAT. The Overland Park Police Department (OPPD) distributes the items through its official X account promotion and the city's OPCAT request page.
OPCAT pairs police officers with trained mental health co-responders to support residents before, during and after crises involving substance use or mental health emergencies. The team responds to calls across Overland Park and now serves as the distribution point for the free prevention supplies.
What's available
The three items residents can request are:
- Naloxone, an overdose-reversal medication the department says is safe for all ages and has no adverse side effects if opioids are not present in a person's system
- Medication lockboxes to secure active prescriptions at home
- Deterra medication disposal kits to safely destroy unused or expired drugs
The department recommends residents keep all three in their medicine cabinets so they are prepared before a crisis occurs.
How to request
Residents can submit a request through the city's OPCAT page at opkansas.gov/opcat. No end date for the program has been announced, and the resources appear to be available on a rolling basis.
The OPPD has promoted the program through a series of posts on X dating to at least July 20. The department framed the effort as a way to reduce harm at home through simple, preventive steps.
Businesses invited to partner
The department is also recruiting local businesses, organizations and community spaces to partner with OPCAT by hosting the free resources on-site for employees or customers. The OPPD posted that invitation Monday, Aug. 24, though it did not specify how many businesses have signed on so far or what hosting entails.
No program participation numbers have been released publicly.
Residents who witness an overdose or experience a mental health crisis should call 911.
