UAMS Joins State Opioid Awareness Initiative
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is now the 15th campus to participate in the One Pill Can Kill program.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin launched the One Pill Can Kill initiative at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to help combat opioid overdoses. The program empowers student leaders with essential skills to address substance abuse on campus.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to curb opioid overdoses at colleges and universities across the state by training students to respond to emergencies. It utilizes funding from opioid settlement dollars managed by the Attorney General's office.
The initiative has now expanded to 15 college campuses and includes 20 completed training sessions across the state. This program began in 2024 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
The players
Tim Griffin
As the Arkansas Attorney General, he manages the opioid settlement funds that provide financial backing for this statewide overdose prevention initiative.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
This Little Rock-based institution serves as a statewide health science university and is the most recent campus to adopt the program.
The details
Student leaders receive hands-on training to identify the signs of opioid overdose and learn how to properly administer naloxone. The program also instructs participants on how to test substances specifically for the presence of fentanyl.
Timeline
The initiative launched at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 2024.
The program expanded to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on October 26, 2026.
Health Landscape
This initiative represents a localized allocation of the national opioid settlement funds to address substance abuse in academic settings. It follows a broader national trend of utilizing litigation proceeds to fund targeted harm-reduction strategies on college campuses.
Students at participating universities gain access to life-saving training on naloxone administration and fentanyl testing. These resources provide immediate, practical tools for recognizing and responding to opioid emergencies on campus.
The takeaway
The program emphasizes that student-led intervention is a critical component of campus safety strategies. Participants learn that early recognition of overdose symptoms is the most important factor in potentially saving a life.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts by visiting the Arkansas Substance Abuse section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KLRT - FOX16.com.
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Should universities provide mandatory training for students to respond to potential opioid overdoses on campus?
