Located near Health Services in the Donaghey Student Center, the vending machine was launched in partnership with the Arkansas Attorney General鈥檚 Office as part of the statewide 鈥淥ne Pill Can Kill鈥� campaign, which raises awareness about the dangers of counterfeit pills and fentanyl-related overdoses. Through the partnership, students now have free access to Narcan and fentanyl testing kits in a central location on campus.

鈥淎rkansas has seen a sharp decline in opioid overdose deaths in the past several years, which is great news. But one death is too many, so our work with the One Pill Can Kill initiative isn鈥檛 done,鈥� said Attorney General Tim Griffin. 鈥淭his vending machine at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is a valuable tool in our fight against illicit opioids. The free Narcan available to students and others may well save a life, which is why I was proud to provide opioid settlement dollars to fund it.鈥�

In addition to harm reduction resources, the machine also includes a variety of personal care and wellness items available for purchase, including:

• First-aid supplies and headache medicine
• Pregnancy tests
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Deodorant and other hygiene products

鈥淭he health and safety of our campus community remain our highest priorities,鈥� said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs. 鈥淏y providing these resources in a central and accessible location, we are helping ensure students have the tools they need to stay safe and supported.鈥�

University leaders said the goal is to make important health and safety resources easier for students to access without stigma or unnecessary barriers.

鈥淲e want students to know these resources are here for them without judgment,鈥� said Sharon Ann Downs, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. 鈥淲hether someone needs a basic hygiene item or a fentanyl testing kit, this machine helps ensure support is available when they need it.鈥�

The wellness vending machine is available during all Donaghey Student Center building hours.

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock joined the initiative on Sept. 8 during a at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center. Griffin and Chancellor Christina Drale joined student leaders, faculty, and staff to announce the university鈥檚 participation, underscoring the importance of prevention and education at a time when opioids remain one of the nation鈥檚 most pressing public health crises.

鈥淭his continues our commitment to bring this initiative to college campuses across Arkansas,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淭he education, awareness, and resources this initiative provides will no doubt save lives. 鈥淐hancellor Drale and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock staff have been great partners in this effort, and I appreciate their commitment to keeping their students safe and addressing this nationwide crisis head-on.鈥�

Griffin, who lost his brother to opioid addiction earlier this year, emphasized that prevention and education are critical steps in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

鈥淥ur goal is to educate campuses by working through student leaders, the media, and word of mouth,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淲e are providing training here to ensure students are prepared, including in the use of Narcan if needed. We are making progress, but this is a fight we must continue.鈥�

Chancellor Drale echoed those concerns, noting that universities have a unique responsibility to protect students and provide resources for wellness and safety.

鈥淎s an institution of higher education, we鈥檙e committed to being part of the solution,鈥� Drale said. 鈥淭hat means sharing information, having difficult conversations, and connecting students to the resources they need. The reality is that it only takes one moment, one decision, one pill to change a life forever.鈥�

The launch included the first campus training session, where more than 100 participants learned how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose, administer Narcan, and use fentanyl test strips. Attendees left with prevention kits containing Narcan, testing strips, gloves, a medication disposal pouch, and information on counterfeit drugs.

Sharon Downs, assistant vice chancellor of student affairs 鈥� wellness and belonging, said the turnout reflects the urgent interest in addressing this issue on campus.

鈥淭he training was a great success with over 100 engaged participants who asked thoughtful questions,鈥� Downs said. 鈥淲e will continue to offer Narcan training each semester, and students can also pick up harm prevention kits at Health Services while supplies last.鈥�

Additional support will soon be available through a new vending machine that will be installed in the Donaghey Student Center. Provided by the Attorney General鈥檚 office, the machine will dispense free Narcan alongside over-the-counter medications, offering students an anonymous and accessible way to obtain life-saving resources.

Student leaders say the initiative is already making an impact.

鈥淚 was very encouraged to see 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock join the 鈥極ne Pill Can Kill鈥� Initiative,鈥� said Ainsley Kendall, a junior business administration major and president of the Student Government Association. 鈥淎ddiction, particularly opioid misuse, is one of the most pressing issues facing college students today, yet many don鈥檛 know how to respond if a crisis occurs. This program is an important step in expanding education and equipping students to make a lasting impact.鈥�

Braden Carr, a junior political science and criminal justice major, said he looks forward to continuing the conversation.

鈥淚 am extremely excited to see the university and the Attorney General come together to tackle this issue,鈥� said Carr, who serves as legislative affairs officer for the Student Government Association. 鈥淭his program is a great first step in educating students on the dangers of the opioid epidemic. As a student leader, I will continue to advocate for increased education and awareness, alongside supporting partnerships such as this.鈥�

Students who need support can access resources through Counseling Services in SSC 118, by calling 501-916-3185, or by emailing counselingservices@ualr.edu. Online resources are also available at ualr.edu/wellness and .

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To honor his commitment to excellence, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has created an endowed professional development fund named in honor of Kirk and his wife Elizabeth, a nurse practitioner who works in long-term care and assisted living.

鈥淭his fund is a great honor for both me and Elizabeth,鈥� Kirk said. 鈥淚 appreciate the fact that folks at the university thought enough of me to do this. Counseling Services is a special group of people at the university.鈥�

The Elizabeth and H. Mike Kirk Professional Development Endowment Fund will provide professional development opportunities for employees and interns in the Department of Counseling Services at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, such as funding continuing education credits that counselors need to renew their license every two years.

鈥淭his fund will help our employees and interns stay abreast of what is going on in the profession,鈥� Kirk said. 鈥淚 want to keep the staff as up to date as possible so we can provide the best help to our students. We鈥檝e also positioned ourselves to be a great training site for those that are in counseling graduate programs. Counseling Services has become a spot in central Arkansas where those who are completing their master鈥檚 degrees want to come just for the internship opportunities because it is such a rich and fulfilling experience for the students.鈥�

The fund was started by Kirk鈥檚 colleagues in Counseling Services. Dr. Aresh Assadi, the new director of Counseling Services, has made a $25,000 planned gift to the fund.

鈥淏efore he even retired, we were thinking about something special we could get Dr. Kirk,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淲e knew how big he was on developing his employees, and he wanted us to grow and improve as much as we could. He was big on professional development and giving us those opportunities.鈥�

Assadi added that many of Kirk鈥檚 colleagues planned to donate to the professional development fund because they thought highly of Kirk鈥檚 regard for the well-being of the campus community.

鈥淒r. Kirk was really passionate about mental health,鈥� Assadi said. 鈥淗e worked hard to increase the resources in Counseling Services during his career at the university. You could tell he was enthusiastic and cared about his job. He wanted to provide the best care for the campus community as possible.鈥�

You can donate to the fund by visiting this website, clicking 鈥淥ther鈥� under Fund, and typing in the Elizabeth and H. Mike Kirk Professional Development Endowment Fund.

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鈥淚 am so honored to be the new director of Health Services,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a little challenging since I鈥檝e never been in a role like this before, but I am looking forward to providing the best care for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus community.鈥�

Smith earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing and master鈥檚 degree in nursing science 鈥� family nurse practitioner, both from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (糖心Vlog传媒MS). Prior to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, she served as a registered nurse at the 糖心Vlog传媒MS Medical Surgical Unit and Arkansas CARES.

鈥淐hanell has been the backbone of Health Services for a long time, and we are all grateful she is in the leadership position for the department and the clinic,鈥� said Sharon Downs, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs – wellness and inclusion. 鈥淪he is an intuitive clinician, an ethical colleague, and a top-notch person. The university is fortunate to have her, and we look forward to a long and fruitful tenure with her as director.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Health Services aims to improve the health and wellness of the university community by providing inclusive evidenced-based, quality health care and wellness promotion to the university鈥檚 students and employees. Smith has been a staple at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Health Services since 2008, when she joined as a registered nurse. She was promoted to advanced practice registered nurse in 2020.

鈥淚 love working at Health Services, and I love working with the students,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e are different from a regular clinic because we have the advantage of doing a lot of patient education, which I feel is especially important for our college students who are leaving home for the first time. They are learning to navigate their own health care, and we get the chance to help them learn how to manage their own healthcare.鈥�

A native of Hensley, Smith and her husband Casey have been married for 25 years and have three children 鈥� Jordan, Justyn, and Mia 鈥� and two grandchildren. Smith is also an avid reader and a sports fan of football, basketball, and softball.

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