Controlled Substance Retail Pharmacy Dispensing Disruption in Reno, Sedgwick and Harvey Counties
(June 26, 2026) – The Kansas Hospital Association has been notified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment of a disruption in retail pharmacy dispensing of controlled substances affecting patients of several pain management providers in Hutchinson, Park City and Wichita.
According to representatives from the Opioid Response Strategy Program of the CDC Foundation, wholesaler/distributor compliance actions tied to opioid settlement-related order-monitoring obligations have disrupted the dispensing of controlled-substance prescriptions to potentially several thousand patients in these areas. ORS and KDHE have expressed concern about potential downstream impacts on these patients, including reduced access to legitimate prescriptions, increased risk of withdrawal and potential movement to an illicit drug supply. We wanted you to be aware of this situation, as it could impact hospital emergency departments, primary care clinics and outpatient pharmacies.
The Kansas Board of Pharmacy has issued a communication toall Kansas pharmacists and pharmacies about this disruption, including information on controlled-substance ordering thresholds and resources for pharmacies and patients.
This disruption coincides with Kratom and 7-OH being set to become Schedule I controlled substances effective July 1. Kratom and 7-OH have been unregulated supplements used by some people to help manage stress, pain or opioid withdrawal. They can be highly addictive and can cause severe withdrawal when stopped abruptly. With the ban on these substances effective July 1, it is anticipated that this could result in more patients experiencing withdrawal from these substances once they are no longer available or potential overdoses if patients switch to other substances. For more information on Kratom and resources related to the ban, please see the following resources:
KHA is working closely with KDHE, KBOP, the Kansas Pharmacists Association, the Kansas Council of Health System Pharmacy and other stakeholders to monitor this situation. We will share additional information as it becomes available. In the meantime, please contact Karen Braman with any questions or additional insights you may have.
--Karen Braman