Narcan Opioid Overdose-Event Kits Now on Campus; Training Available

Breeanne Carter

AED with a Narcan (an opioid overdose-event) Kit located inside Pat Walker Health Center.

In accordance with Act 811 of 2023, trademarked Narcan (Opioid Overdose Event) kits are now available on the U of A campus. Arkansas Code 6-60-122 requires public institutions of higher education in the state of Arkansas to keep a naloxone kit on campus, beginning Jan. 1, 2024.  

Naloxone is a life-saving opioid agonist that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose; NARCAN is a trade brand name of naloxone. Change makers in Arkansas at the city, state, county and local levels worked to get the new law passed, and the law specifically includes educational facilities, dormitories, student unions, sporting venues, campus health centers and institutionally owned sorority and fraternity housing. The requirement for the Narcan kits will begin Jan. 1, 2024, with a requirement to report usage to the Arkansas State Drug Director.

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education coordinated the initial deployment of the Narcan kits, and U of A's Office of Environmental Health and Safety distributed the kits for installation on campus to fixed AED locations and floors that do not have an AED on campus. Approximately 526 kits in total will be present on campus by Jan. 1, 2024, most of which are already distributed and present in campus buildings. The kit locations will be registered with the U of A Police Department, and a list of locations will be available through UAPD and the Pat Walker Health Center by Jan. 1, 2024.  

Along with the distribution of the kits, receiving education and training about Narcan is important. Pat Walker Health Center's Substance Education, Assessment & Recovery (SEAR) program understands this, which is why they host monthly Narcan trainings during the fall and spring semesters. In addition to SEAR's Narcan trainings, the Narcan training video below will also be available via Destination Arkansas Blackboard Activities (DABA) for undergraduate students who started fall 2018 or later. 

U of A students, faculty and staff who do not receive the DABA content can watch the Narcan training video above, attend a SEAR Narcan training in the fall or spring, or can learn more through the Department of Human Services' NARCANsas site or an in-person collegiate Narcan Campaign (SOR II). SEAR's last in-person Narcan training for this semester is scheduled from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, in Arkansas Union 305.  

Anyone who uses a Narcan Kit is encouraged to report the use of the kit on the NARCANsas app, which can be downloaded on the Apple Store or Google Play Store. 

For on campus substance use and support resources, reach out to the Pat Walker Health Center's Substance Education, Assessment and Recovery program at sear@uark.edu. More information can also be found at health.uark.edu.