STARKVILLE, Miss.—Attorney General Lynn Fitch today announced Mississippi State has joined the One Pill Can Kill initiative, 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.
“As one of our largest universities, Mississippi State’s involvement in One Pill Can Kill is crucial to combatting the fentanyl crisis,” said General Fitch. “By raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and equipping students with the knowledge and tools to stop an overdose, I am confident lives will be saved. I am grateful for all our partners who are working together to end this deadly epidemic.”
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 strips, 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 centers, 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.
Among those joining General Fitch at the announcement were Joan Lucas, General Counsel for Mississippi State University; Wendy Bailey, Executive Director for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health; and Col. Stephen Maxwell, Director of Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
“At Mississippi State University, we want all of our students to study, learn and grow in an environment that nurtures and supports them. We also want to help them understand the risks they face and give them the knowledge they need to make good decisions and to know what to do to help others,” said Dr. Mark E. Keenum, President of Mississippi State University. “It’s clear that fentanyl poses a very serious risk for our students, and for that matter, all of us. However, I’m confident our state and nation can beat the opioid epidemic by working together, and that’s why we are so pleased to join the One Pill Can Kill campaign. I applaud Attorney General Fitch for leading this fight as we all work together to educate and empower our students and fellow Mississippians.”
As part of the partnership, the Attorney General’s Office delivered 1,000 Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kits for MSU students and provided a training on how to properly use the fentanyl test strips. Since launching the initiative, Attorney General Fitch has welcomed similar partnerships with the University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi, and Alcorn State University.
“It’s hard to imagine that there’s a single Mississippian who doesn’t know someone who’s been affected by drug addiction or a substance use disorder,” said Wendy Bailey, Executive Director for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. “Addiction and mental health issues don’t discriminate on age, race, or background. That’s why initiatives like this are so important. Anyone and everyone needs to know what kind of resources are available to them in their communities. These Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kits are an incredible resource to have, and we know they’re already saving lives. The Department of Mental Health is proud to be a partner in this initiative.”
Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said, “I am proud of the partnership we have with Attorney General Lynn Fitch, Mississippi State University, the Department of Mental Health, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics on the ‘One Pill Can Kill’ initiative. Through this collaborative effort, we are not only saving lives but educating our students and future leaders of the devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis.”
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.