10/18/2022
Since 2021, Fort Smith Police, EMS, Fire, or an individual on scene have administered 194 doses of Narcan in life-saving responses that would otherwise have resulted in deadly overdoses. Sixty-six were confirmed as fentanyl cases with an additional 31 being an unconfirmed substance and 33 unknown pills, where fentanyl use was possible. Sadly, there have been a number of our friends, neighbors and loved ones who have died from fentanyl overdoses. It’s deadly, it’s here, and you need to be prepared.
Rest assured that your FSPD is working diligently with other local, state and federal law enforcement partners to aggressively identify and prosecute those who choose to prey on our community by dealing in illegal substances such as fentanyl. In just the last year, 4 local fentanyl dealers have been indicted with one responsible for bringing over 36,000 fentanyl pills to Fort Smith in 2022. It is a growing problem that we are working daily to combat.
This link is an invaluable resource for information on fentanyl, as well as how to administer Narcan, and how to talk to your children or other at-risk loved ones about the risks- https://lacedandlethal.com. We also want to encourage everyone to be familiar with Arkansas' "Don't Run Call 911" law in the event you are with someone experiencing an overdose. Together, we can end this terrible epidemic.
