As part of the Sentinel Project, UCAPD will receive a TruNarc handheld analyzer from the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership to conduct field-based presumptive exams on suspected narcotics, precursors and cutting agents.
“Essentially it will allow our officers to more safely and quickly perform field tests on suspected narcotics and other substances,” Michael Hopper, public information officer for UCAPD, said. “In most cases, the officer will not have to come into physical contact with the substance to test it, thus increasing safety for the officer and anyone else nearby. The results of all tests across the state will be compiled into a database to identify, track and communicate current and emerging trends related to opioid and other dangerous drug use in Arkansas. This will help law enforcement address dangerous trends in a timely manner.”
UCAPD was selected as a recipient through the Sentinel Project after Stephanie Rose, director of the addiction studies program, applied for the grant.
“I learned about the TruNarc Sentinel Project through the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership,” Rose said. “I checked with Chief [John] Merguie and he said that UCAPD could benefit from one, but it wasn’t in the budget as they cost $26,000. This is also to share with Conway PD as we have a partnership with Conway Crisis PD Unit and our new peer support and recovery specialists to assist with addressing crisis and addiction.”
Rose said, “This wonderful tool assists our Police Officers, as well as faculty, students and staff safely because they do not have to have contact with any unknown substances. The TruNarc can analyze the substances, and we can avoid contact with harmful substances, particularly fentanyl. This also helps with increasing overall field tests as well.”
In a news release by UCA, UCAPD Chief of Police John Merguie said, “We are pleased to have been chosen as an awardee of the Sentinel Project. The TruNarc analyzer will help ensure the safety of our officers when analyzing suspected narcotics in the field because, in most cases, it will not require any direct contact with the substance being tested.”
Hopper said eligibility for receiving this grant includes school districts with school resource officers or partnerships with their local law enforcement agencies, colleges with campus police agencies or partnerships with their local law enforcement agencies or drug task forces, city or county law enforcement, including county jails.
Rose said it is important for students to be aware of the resources around them, such as UCAPD and information regarding the opioid crisis.
“It only takes a small amount to induce an overdose. Because it is so cheap to make, it is used in so many various ways, including press pills,” she said. “My cousin died while smoking marijuana with a group of friends. He happened to smoke the part that included fentanyl. A lot of overdoses that take place in Arkansas are unintentional overdoses as many people do not realize how little fentanyl it takes to trigger an overdose.”
Rose said the addiction studies program has been working with Staci James from the Hope Movement Coalition to host a screening of “Fentanyl: Death Incorporated” in the Ida Waldran Auditorium Nov. 14.
“UCA Addiction Studies program participates in overdose walks, supports families who have lost loved ones to addiction, provides free treatment and more. We were the first university to have on-campus Narcan prior to a law making it required,” Rose said. “We have embraced on-campus and community efforts to address this issue within our state. These partnerships are powerful and recognized and we were honored when we were asked to host it.
“Warner Bros. wants students to see it and obtain their perspective on this documentary,” she said. “This is particularly due to the focus on how the fentanyl epidemic looks so differently in Middle America. There are camps and places where people seek fentanyl, but that is not what it looks like for the majority of Arkansas. The majority of overdoses have been unintentional. We hope that the documentary provides information that empowers people to make safe decisions and decrease stigma.”
Tickets for the screening can be bought online.