Attorney General Lynn Fitch welcomed Northwest Mississippi Community College as the latest partner to join 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.
"With counterfeit pills becoming increasingly common in Mississippi, it is timethat we step up, be bold, and demand action in this fight against opioids," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "I am grateful for Northwest MississippiCommunity College's willingness partner with my office to educate and protectstudents. Thank you to Dr. Heindl and Sheriff Tuggle for your leadership andcommitment to raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl."Nearly 400 attendees joined the Attorney General's Office as they trainedfaculty, staff, and students on the administration of naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, and presented NWMCC with 750 Fentanyl Harm PreventionKits - which include two fentanyl test strips, a pair of gloves for safety, a safedrug disposal bag, and a pill identification card that identifies whether a drug islegitimate.While on campus, Attorney General Fitch also provided seven EmergencyOverdose Boxes, which can be mounted in public places and include naloxoneand other tools needed to prevent a deadly overdose.
The boxes were developedin coordination with Harbor Path, a nonprofit dedicated to putting naloxonewithin arm's reach of anyone who needs it. Joining General Fitch at the announcement were Dr. Michael J. Heindl,Northwest Mississippi Community College President and Sheriff Thomas E.Tuggle II, DeSoto County Sheriff.“We are grateful to partner with Attorney General Lynn Fitch on the ‘One Pill Can Kill’ initiative. Her dedication to educating students and distributingFentanyl Harm Prevention Kits is making a real difference in the fight against the fentanyl and opioid crisis. By raising awareness and providing criticalresources, she is helping to save precious lives across our state and beyond,"said Dr. Michael J. Heindl, Northwest Mississippi CommunityCollege President."Together, we embody strength. The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office andMississippi Attorney General Fitch stand united in the fight against the opioidepidemic. General Fitch's 'One Pill Can Kill' initiative serves as a powerful allyin our battle against fentanyl, safeguarding futures and protecting the youth ofMississippi. One pill, one choice, one life—we are committed to educating,enforcing, and eradicating the opioid crisis," said DeSoto County SheriffThomas E. Tuggle II.Since launching the initiative, Attorney General Fitch has welcomed similarpartnerships with the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University,University of Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State University, Delta StateUniversity, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.In addition to the One Pill Can Kill public awareness initiative, AG Fitch createdthe Fentanyl Strike Force to train law enforcement officers on best practices forinvestigating and disrupting fentanyl activities, including how to keepthemselves safe from the deadly drug.
In partnership with the MississippiBureau of Narcotics, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and localagencies, the Fentanyl Strike Force engages in law enforcement operationsacross the State. So far, more than 400 state and local law enforcement officershave been trained through this program.Learn more about One Pill Can Kill at AttorneyGeneralLynnFitch.com/OnePillor request a Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kit by email at onepill@ago.ms.gov.
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