As opioid-related death investigations increase in Alabama, the state agency that receives evidence from more than 450 law enforcement agencies is getting new equipment to help handle the growing workload.

Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $262,770 grant to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to purchase equipment that will assist with opioid and other synthetic drug cases.

Department officials said ADFS has experienced a steady increase in opioid-related death investigations and toxicology submissions at its medical examiner facilities.

“Our law enforcement agencies depend on the timely analysis of evidence in cases involving opioid misuse,” Ivey said. “I am pleased to award this grant to assist the Department of Forensic Sciences in its efforts to prepare results for so many law enforcement agencies in our state.”

The grant will help ADFS add morgue equipment and a Random Access Biochip Technology Analyzer, or RABTA, a toxicology drug-screening instrument that can rapidly screen for multiple drugs at the same time using a single patient sample.

ADFS officials said the new equipment will help speed up toxicology results and improve their accuracy.

The funding comes through the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program, which provides funding to states and local governments to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner and coroner services.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will administer the grant using funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“ADECA stands with Gov. Ivey in her efforts to provide much-needed support to statewide law enforcement agencies like the Department of Forensic Sciences,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.