TL;DR: In this powerful episode of Fentanyl on the Front Line, we dive into how police, first responders, and communities are battling the fentanyl crisis with innovative training and compassion. I’m Connor MacIvor, a retired LAPD motor officer and advocate, joined by Dr. Levy, Z School’s chief learning officer and opioid awareness expert. We explore the Opioid Response Training Course, a no-cost, game-changing program for law enforcement and local agencies, funded by opioid settlements. Want to equip your department to save lives? Watch now and learn how to join the fight! Submit your department’s training request at https://www.zschool.com/training-request.

Welcome to Fentanyl on the Front Line, the podcast delivering unfiltered, actionable insights to combat the opioid epidemic. I’m Connor MacIvor, a former LAPD motor officer turned advocate, joined by Dr. Levy, a trailblazer in opioid awareness with a doctorate in business administration and peer-reviewed research on transformative public safety programs. In this episode, we sit down with Mayor Neill Clark of Sparta Township, NJ, to unpack how communities are fighting fentanyl with empathy, collaboration, and cutting-edge training.

This episode shines a light on the fentanyl crisis through a small-town lens, revealing how Sparta, NJ, is making a big impact. Mayor Clark shares how his town has embraced harm reduction—using Narcan and policies like New Jersey’s Overdose Prevention Act to prioritize saving lives over punishment. We dive into a powerful story of a young man who, after a Narcan save, went from overdose to law school, thanks to police connecting him to recovery resources. The discussion also covers the critical role of community collaboration, addressing triggers like shame and drug access, and tackling gaps like transportation to recovery meetings to support long-term sobriety.

At the heart of this fight is the Opioid Response Training Course from Z School, backed by over 60 university partners. This program equips police officers, first responders, and local agencies with practical strategies for addressing opioid use disorder—from recognizing overdose signs to administering Narcan and de-escalating crises. The best part? It’s fully funded by opioid settlement funds, meaning zero cost for eligible departments. Chiefs like Bruce Hedley and Mike Ayers in Georgia got 50+ departments signed up in under 24 hours—proof this training is a game-changer. The CARE model (Calm, Assess, Respond, Engage) is training thousands across states like New Jersey, Georgia, and Missouri to respond with empathy, reducing burnout and recidivism.

Police chiefs, sheriffs, and local agencies: this is your call to action. The Opioid Response Training Course empowers your team to save lives and build stronger communities. Submitting a training request is simple—commit to the program, and Z School handles the funding process with no financial liability. Visit https://www.zschool.com/training-request to get started. Advisory Board members, like Chiefs Hedley and Ayers, are leading the charge—join them and earn bonuses for enrolling more departments. Contact Josh Azan at [email protected] or 954-647-3252 for details.

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This episode is a rallying cry: addiction doesn’t discriminate, but neither does hope. Equip your department, save lives, and transform communities. Share this video, like, and subscribe to join the fight against fentanyl!

Recap:

• Mayor Clark shares how Sparta, NJ, fights fentanyl with Narcan and harm reduction.
• The Opioid Response Training Course equips police with strategies for opioid use disorder, fully funded by opioid set