Reminder: Narcan Kits on Campus & Training Available

Breeanne Carter

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

As a reminder, Narcan (opioid overdose event) kits are available on the U of A campus. A list of campus Narcan kit locations is available through the Pat Walker Health Center and the U of A Police Department. 

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 a total of 541 kits for installation on campus to fixed AED locations and floors that do not have an AED. 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. 

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 have led efforts to ensure training is available for the campus community through both online and in person training opportunities. The training video below is available via Destination Arkansas Blackboard Activities (DABA) for undergraduate students who started fall 2018 or later and is available for anyone to watch on PWHC's YouTube channel.  

SEAR also hosts monthly Narcan trainings in person during the fall and spring semesters, in partnership with local non-profit Northwest Arkansas Harm Reduction (NWAHR). NWAHR's mission is to "create a community that values the safety and dignity of all people through compassion and understanding of individuals through evidence-based harm reduction practices," according to their website. They offer free Narcan, free fentanyl testing strips, education and training, and more. The next Narcan training is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 15, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in HLTH 1116-1118, and RSVPs can be made on HogSync or via the U of A Calendar. RSVPs are not required, but they are encouraged. 

The trademarked Narcan kits on campus are in accordance with Act 811 of 2023. Arkansas Code 6-60-122 took effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and requires public institutions of higher education in Arkansas to keep naloxone kits in specific locations on campus. 

For more Narcan resource information and on-campus substance use and support resources, visit health.uark.edu.