Attorney General Lynn Fitch today welcomed Delta State University as the latest partner to One Pill Can Kill, her public awareness campaign to educate, support and empower Mississippians with information on the dangers of fentanyl, how to identify it, and what to do if a student or friend is overdosing. Click here to access the media kit.
“I am proud to announce that Delta State is partnering with my office to educate and protect students from fentanyl,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Counterfeit pills are easily available – even to adolescents – through social media and other apps, and they are increasingly common throughout Mississippi, but we are working together to combat this crisis. Through our university partnerships alone, we are able to reach nearly 60,000 students with the harrowing truth that it only takes one pill to kill – this is truly remarkable and the reason I remain hopeful and confident that we will end this deadly epidemic once and for all.”
The One Pill Can Kill initiative is one half of a two-prong approach to fighting fentanyl. As part of the initiative, the Attorney General’s Office is distributing 22,000 Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kits – which include two fentanyl test trips, a pair of gloves for safety, a safe drug disposal bag, and a pill identification card that identifies whether the drug is legitimate – to colleges and universities, law enforcement agencies, community mental health centers, and other community groups. In addition, General Fitch established the AGO Fentanyl Strike Force, a concerted effort to train and organize law enforcement officers and prosecutors across the state to safely and effectively investigate and prosecute fentanyl cases.
Joining General Fitch at the announcement were Dr. Leslie Griffin, Interim Provost and Vice President Academic Affairs at Delta State University; Chief Jeff Johns, Chief of Police for Delta State University; and Charlotte Bryant, Outreach Coordinator for Stand Up, Mississippi.
“Delta State University is eager to join the One Pill Can Kill campaign. It is heartening that Attorney General Fitch is bringing this initiative to our campus and rural region,” said Delta State University’s Dr. Leslie Griffin. “The risk associated with this drug is high and we must be aggressive in educating our students and citizens.”
As part of the partnership, the Attorney General’s Office delivered 1,000 Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kits, an additional 500 Fentanyl test strips, and 100 educational posters to be displayed across campus. Following the announcement, students will receive a training on how to administer Narcan, a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids, and a training on how to properly use the fentanyl test strips.
“Addiction is a complex issue that affects people and communities all over our state and our nation, regardless of age, gender, or background. It is our goal to raise awareness, provide resources, and advocate for effective strategies to combat opioid misuse. The Department of Mental Health is proud to partner with the Attorney General’s Office to address the ongoing opioid crisis through this important and life-saving initiative.” said Charlotte Bryant, Outreach Coordinator for Stand Up, Mississippi.
Delta State Chief Jeff Johns said, “It is with great pleasure that I welcome the One Pill Can Kill Campaign to Delta State University and the Mississippi Delta. I commend the remarkable efforts of my friend and colleague, Attorney General Lynn Fitch, in leading this campaign and her dedicated strike force. The necessity of partnerships in combating this clear and present danger to our communities cannot be overstated. We must reject the misconception that this crisis is confined to any one group or segment. In reality, it affects every socioeconomic stratum in our nation, as adversaries proliferate this threat across all illegal markets, from counterfeit pills to marijuana. The issue poses a significant challenge to our higher education institutions, both public and private, in safeguarding our youth. Tragically, we have already seen students nationwide succumb to the evils of fentanyl. It is imperative for all of us in positions of authority to respond to the call to action in every city, campus, and state, and to mobilize our communities against this deadly drug.”
Since launching the initiative, Attorney General Fitch has welcomed similar partnerships with the University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State University, and Mississippi State University.
Learn more about One Pill Can Kill at AttorneyGeneralLynnFitch.com/OnePill or request a Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kit by email at onepill@ago.ms.gov.