El Dorado, Arkansas – Arkansas officials are continuing their efforts to combat the growing opioid crisis by expanding a statewide awareness campaign aimed at educating young adults about the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit pills. The latest step in that effort took place at South Arkansas College in El Dorado, where Attorney General Tim Griffin officially launched the One Pill Can Kill initiative on campus.
The program is designed to warn students about the deadly risks associated with unknown or counterfeit drugs and to provide training on how to respond to potential overdoses.
South Arkansas College now becomes the ninth school in Arkansas to participate in the initiative and the first community college to join the program since it was introduced statewide.
Attorney General Griffin praised the college for stepping forward and taking part in the effort. He said, “South Arkansas College is the ninth school overall and the first community college to join the One Pill Can Kill initiative. I applaud SAC’s leadership for joining this important effort.”
Expanding awareness among college students
State officials say the campaign focuses heavily on college campuses because young adults are often among those most at risk of exposure to fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic opioids.
Griffin emphasized that the threat posed by these substances remains severe across Arkansas. He explained that while the opioid crisis affects many people, statistics show that young adults face a particularly high level of risk.
“While opioids, particularly fentanyl, pose an acute risk to all Arkansans, statistically we know that young adults are disproportionately affected by these dangerous drugs. That’s why we’re bringing this program to college campuses across the state. We’re raising awareness and equipping students with information and tools to prevent and mitigate overdoses,” Griffin said.
The One Pill Can Kill initiative, first introduced in the fall of 2024, focuses on peer-based education and overdose prevention training. Students participating in the program learn how counterfeit pills and unknown substances can contain fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that can cause fatal overdoses even in extremely small amounts.
According to Griffin, the program has already reached a large number of students across Arkansas.
“Since launching the One Pill Can Kill initiative in the fall of 2024, we have trained approximately 1,450 college students to understand the very real danger of using unknown substances and know what to do if someone near them experiences an overdose.”
College leaders join the fight against opioids
South Arkansas College leaders also expressed strong support for the program, noting that institutions of higher education play an important role in protecting students and spreading awareness about the risks associated with fentanyl.
College President Stephanie Tully-Dartez said the initiative provides valuable tools for educating students and addressing concerns within the community.
“The risks to young people associated with fentanyl and counterfeit pills are of great concern to our community and especially to those who serve high-risk populations like college students. The One Pill Can Kill initiative raises awareness through peer training and provides a solid and sustainable approach to leveraging campus leadership in the fight against opioids.”
Officials hope that by expanding the program to more campuses, students will gain critical knowledge that could help prevent overdoses and save lives.
With South Arkansas College now joining the initiative, state leaders say the program continues to grow as part of Arkansas’ broader strategy to raise awareness about fentanyl and reduce the devastating impact of opioid misuse among young people.
