‘One Pill Can Kill’ initiative launched at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin launched an initiative aimed at combating opioid overdoses at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Griffin launched the One Pill Can Kill initiative at the university Tuesday and talked about the dangers of fentanyl and other opioids.

This is the third campus where Griffin has launched the program, which began in 2024 with his first visit to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and continued earlier this month at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The initiative aims to help students and faculty understand the serious risks of opioid use and the importance of prevention.

“One pill of illicit opioids can kill you, and you have no idea what you are taking because it is manufactured thousands of miles away by people who don’t care if you live or die,” Griffin said.

The initiative is also bringing Narcan vending machines to UAPB, with plans to place them in every campus building. The program is inspiring both professors and students to recognize their role in combating opioid addiction.

“The initiative facilitates education, teaching students and staff what resources are available, how to use Narcan, and how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose,” Henry Brooks IV, a professor at UAPB, said.

“Anytime we get somebody here on campus that can remind our students about their health, mental health and overall well-being, it’s amazing,” Aareyon Wallace, UAPB student government president, added.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 391 people died from drug overdoses in Arkansas last year, a 24% decrease from 2023, when 516 deaths were reported. While the numbers show progress, Griffin hopes initiatives like this will keep the focus on education and prevention, both locally and nationally.

“These were real people who are gone, and it’s not just some academic discussion,” Griffin said. “Real people with real risk and real consequences.”

The university also held trainings across campus to equip student leaders with knowledge about the dangers of opioids and connect students with available resources.