Naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, became available on Drake’s campus in January.
The initiative began with Sean Groh, who served in the 38th session of Student Senate as a first-year senator. It was developed in collaboration with Ann Breeding, founder of Steps of Hope, a support group for those affected by a loved one’s substance use disorder.
“I’ve never heard anyone on campus talk about Narcan,” said Miles Hamill, a sophomore. “I would say that most students are relatively unaware, or they know that it exists, don’t know its name, don’t know how to use it or apply it.”
Growing up, Hamill said his parents sat him down to educate him on the purpose of naloxone, where they kept it within the household, and most importantly, how to administer it. His experience is unlike many of his peers.
The Boston University School of Public Health conducted a study that found fewer than 15% of college students surveyed knew how to administer naloxone in the event of an overdose, and only about 30% understood what the medication is used for.
That lack of awareness is what Groh aimed to change. After coordination with university administration and facilities staff, naloxone resources were installed in Olmsted Center. Each kit contains doses of Narcan nasal spray and includes instructions on its use.
Groh has continued to organize educational efforts surrounding the initiative, but recently passed the torch to First-Year Senator Monica Osborn, Student Body President Ty Walls and Community Engagement Senator Leannah Choi, who will oversee future programming and awareness campaigns.
Overdoses are not a campus-only issue, causing an expansion of resources into the Drake community and neighborhood, said Ty Walls, student body president. Wall’s goal is to reach West End, Peggy’s Tavern and all of the apartment complexes in the surrounding area. As of Nov. 4, the nasal sprays are available behind the bar in West End Lounge, and there are efforts being made to set up resources in Peggy’s Tavern.
Through education initiatives, Walls hopes to normalize conversations about substance abuse and overdoses.
“[We’re] eliminating the stigma around it,” said Walls. “I feel like that’s the big thing for a lot of people, is that they try to hide it instead of embracing the help from the community and from the people we have resources from, like Broadlawns. They have small independent [support] groups that go over substance abuse as well. And then [we’re] just making those more seen on campus.”
Not every college student has personally experimented with opioids, but according to a study in 2018 done by Penn State Lehigh Valley, 20.5% of students in their survey personally know someone who has misused pain medications.
“College students are at a unique age in life where we’re all really dumb, but we have a surprising access to alcohol and other drugs and substances,” said Hamill. “We are the most at risk age group and category of people for overdoses. So it’s important for us to be aware and to prevent that.”
Nov. 7 at 5 p.m., Osborn and Student Senate will be providing a narcan training session to the first-year class in Sussman Theater. Registration is available via a QR code on Osborn’s Instagram, @monicaosbornfordrake.
