SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum wants people to remain vigilant when it comes to drug overdoses. The chief spoke with reporters Friday following three deaths in the past few weeks believed to be related to overdoses.
So far in 2025, drug overdoses have killed seven people in Sioux Falls, with an 8th suspected case awaiting toxicology tests.
SFPD: 7 confirmed overdose deaths so far in 2025
“When we look at these drug cases, I think sometimes we hear terminology, like hey it’s a bad batch, or its a hot batch, the reality is with the drugs we are dealing with in this day and age, there is no such thing, they are all bad batches, said Thum.
At this time last year the city had ten deaths linked to drug overdoses. Emily’s Hope founder Angela Kennecke looks at the drop in deaths so far, as a small victory.
“Overdose deaths actually decreased by 20 percent. I think that is a good thing. However, of course, the eight tragic deaths and how those have impacted families and friends, that’s awful. And I want to see no deaths at all, but to have the numbers going down, I think that’s fantastic,” said Kennecke.
Kennecke’s nonprofit, Emily’s Hope, has distributed more than a thousand doses of Naloxone, also called Narcan, statewide in the past year.
Kennecke says people are relaying information to her that they have already prevented several overdoses.
“So I have had separate people approach me, at different times to tell me that Naloxone has saved someone’s life. The Naloxone they got from an Emily’s Hope distribution box,” said Kennecke.
Those public Naloxone distribution boxes are placed in strategic locations throughout South Dakota. Kennecke says Naloxone is a tool, not a cure.
“So we also offer a post-overdose response team for people who have survived an overdose to connect them with the resources that they need. It has to be followed up with the right kind of care to treat substance abuse disorder,” said Kennecke.
Chief Thum agrees, it’s what happens after an overdose that can lead to change.
“If you are not dealing with the root cause, if you are not dealing with people who have that demand for that narcotic and some of those issues that are there, it’s a multi-faceted approach that has to be taken,” said Thum.
