MONTGOMERY–Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $262,770 grant to upgrade state forensic equipment. The funding will support opioid and other synthetic drug cases.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs announced the award in a news release.

In addition, the grant will fund morgue equipment and a Random Access Biochip Technology Analyzer toxicology drug-screening instrument. The analyzer can rapidly screen one patient sample for multiple drugs at once.

As a result, Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences officials said the instrument will speed up testing and improve the accuracy of toxicology results.

Meanwhile, department officials reported steady increases in opioid-related death investigations and toxicology submissions at Alabama’s medical examiner facilities.

ADFS is the sole provider of forensic testing services to more than 450 law enforcement agencies across Alabama.

The funding comes through the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program. The program helps improve forensic science and medical examiner and coroner services.

Additionally, ADECA will administer the grant using funds from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Ivey said law enforcement agencies depend on timely evidence analysis in opioid misuse cases. She said the grant will help ADFS provide results to agencies throughout the state.

ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said the funding provides needed support to the Department of Forensic Sciences and statewide law enforcement agencies.