Memorial to Victims of Opioid Crisis to be Displayed on U of A Campus

Photo Submitted

A portion of the "Prescribed to Death" memorial.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A national traveling exhibit, “Prescribed to Death: A Memorial to the Victims of the Opioid Crisis,” will be on display from Wednesday Oct. 3 through Tuesday, Oct. 9 in room 201 of the Arkansas Union. It is free and open to the public. Everyone throughout the community is invited to attend.

The exhibit was created by the National Safety Council in an effort to personalize a drug crisis that was declared a national public health emergency last fall. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a wall of 22,000 engraved white pills – each representing the face of someone lost to a prescription opioid overdose in 2015. Arkansas alone lost 169 people to opioid overdose in 2016, and it has the second highest rate of opioid prescribing in the country – trailing only Alabama.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is partnering with the Association of Arkansas Counties and the Arkansas Municipal League to bring the exhibit to the U of A. This will be the exhibit’s only stop in Arkansas.

The Associated Student Government is a supporting partner in the exhibit, reserving space on campus and providing volunteers during the week. The exhibit fits in to the ASG’s ongoing effort to educate the campus about the danger of opioids.

“Over the past year ASG has demonstrated its’ commitment to educating our students about the dangers of opioid abuse,” said Trevor Villines, director of external relations for ASG. “Bringing the National Safety Council’s memorial is a continuation of that commitment. We first learned about this opportunity in July, and we were thrilled that Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge was considering bringing this to the University of Arkansas. We hope that students, faculty, staff, and community members will visit the memorial while it’s here.”

The memorial is accompanied by resources that help visitors both safely dispose of unused pills in their homes and facilitate discussions with prescribers about alternatives. Visitors receive first-of-their-kind “Opioids: Warn Me” labels to affix to their insurance cards, empowering them to discuss with prescribers the risks of taking opioids and whether other pain relief options are available. The Council has also partnered with Stericycle – a Chicago-based waste disposal company – to provide Seal and Send medication disposal envelopes to help visitors easily get rid of unused medications. The envelopes are safe, reliable and anonymous.

People who have lost loved ones to opioid overdose will have the opportunity to honor them at the Arkansas Union. Guests can add their loved one’s name to a digital memorial provided by the National Safety Council, or remember them by sharing photos, flowers or personal effects on site. Please note, items will not be returned.

“As the state with the second highest opioid prescribing rate and with 40 percent of our teens having reported trying prescription drugs, we must allocate the money, manpower and message to end this epidemic,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

The exhibit is underwritten by contributions from Stericycle, Nationwide Insurance, Walmart, Arkansas Municipal League, Association of Arkansas Counties, Prescription Drug Safety Network - powered by EVERFI, and Schneider. Visit stopeverydaykillers.org for more information is available online.

About the National Safety Council: The National Safety Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact.