Pubdate: Tue, 20 Sep 2016
Source: Ubyssey (CN BC Edu)
Copyright: 2016 Ubyssey
Contact:  http://www.ubyssey.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/706
Author: Vassilena Sharlandjieva

CAMPUS ADDRESSES DANGERS OF DRUG OVERDOSING AMID FENTANYL CRISIS

Along with the parties and events in the first two weeks of classes
came a warning about fentanyl on campus. Fentanyl, an opioid pain
medication, has caused hundreds of overdose deaths and has sparked a
public health emergency in BC.

The RCMP told Brian Spencer, president of the Inter-fraternity Council
(IFC), that they were alerted of fentanyl-laced drugs coming to
campus, said IFC Vice-President Nick Echeverria. The IFC, which is the
governing body of UBC fraternities, spread the word to its members and
throughout social media, and took extra safety precautions at its events.

"We hired extra security guards. We made it very clear to them that
they have to be very thorough in checking backpacks and making sure no
UBC students get in bringing open liquor," said Echeverria. Guards
hired by the IFC also ensure no one without a UBC ID enters the
village during parties, in addition to prohibiting open drink
containers and checking backpacks.

One fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE), went a step further in
response to the warning.

"In an effort to be prepared in case something does go wrong, our risk
manager Dixon Scott went to St. Michael's Hospital and got trained in
the use of the Naloxone kit, which is an anti-opioid overdose kit, in
the case that someone was in need," said DKE President Zachary Starko.
"We have not needed to use it, thankfully."

The anti-opioid overdose kit Starko refers to contains Naloxone, a
medicine which reverses an overdose by temporarily blocking an
opioid's action when injected. Opioids such as fentanyl, as well as
heroin, morphine and oxycodone, can cause one's breathing to become
dangerously slow or stop altogether in the case of an overdose.

Since the spring of this year, UBC Student Health Services (SHS) has
been offering these opioid overdose prevention kits to students for
free on both campuses. Any UBC student who uses intravenous drugs and
believes that they are at risk for overdosing can pick up an antidote
kit without a prescription and get trained on how to use it, said
Patricia Mirwaldt, director of SHS.

The training provided by SHS involves a 20-minute video explaining how
Naloxone works as well as its benefits and potential side effects.
After that, a nurse would train the student in how to inject
themselves. If the students who use drugs are accompanied by another
person who may give the antidote, they are trained as well, said Mirwaldt.

So far, no students have picked up the antidote kits from Student
Health Service.

"There are various places that one can get this from," said Mirwaldt
on the lack of demand, referring to the multiple sites throughout BC
that offer the kits. However, apart from some media coverage, UBC has
not actively promoted the service. With regard to whether this will
change, Mirwaldt said, "We certainly have an open door policy about it
and we'll watch over the term and see how it's being used before we
make that decision."

The distribution of antidote kits is a provincial program that has
been in place since 2012 in British Columbia. UBC began offering the
kits on campus after the provincial government asked people who see
young adults to get involved, Mirwaldt explained.

"I wouldn't anticipate it being a popular program at UBC," said Mark
Haden, a professor at UBC's School of Population and Public Health,
noting that university students are not typically considered a
population at risk for opioid overdose. "Nevertheless, I think it's
important to have it there to make a statement that we care about you.
It's basically saying, 'This is something that we have and we
understand opioid addiction.' It's sending the right message."

"University students are not immune to opioid addiction," he added.
"It can happen anywhere at any time."

"It would be silly to think that students aren't exposed to these
things," said Lina Castro, coordinator of VICE, the new AMS service
aiming to bring education, mentorship and peer support for student
substance use. "A lot of people think it's just in the general public,
but it's right here as well."

Castro said that the SHS and VICE will refer students to each other
based on the student's particular needs, and what help they could use
for managing drug and alcohol consumption.
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MAP posted-by: Matt