Opioid overdose rescue kits have been placed in high-traffic locations throughout Metro State’s campuses, enabling anyone to administer life-saving medicine to an overdose victim. The kits contain the nasal spray naloxone (brand name Narcan) and step-by-step instructions for its use.

Campus efforts to prevent opioid overdoses are part of the university’s commitment “to the health, wellness and safety of all members of our community,” said Thomas Maida, director of Safety and Security in an email announcing the new Narcan kits.

Maida said campus safety officers have received training on administering the medicine, and will carry overdose rescue kits on them.

On April 4, the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Student Association (ADCSA) and the Nursing Student Organization (NSO) held an opioid overdose prevention training for students.

Katherine Anschutz, past president of the ADCSA, led the training. She received her training from the Steve Rummler Hope Network, a nonprofit organization working to address the opioid crisis and the toll of addiction.

“The training disseminated crucial info about just how bad the opioid epidemic is and what they, as students, can do about it,” Anschutz said. “The training taught students and faculty alike on how to recognize when a person is suffering from an opioid overdose, including symptoms of overdose and methods to determine if it is indeed an overdose.”

Participants learned about Steve’s Law, also known as the Good Samaritan Law, that allows lay people to carry and administer Narcan. The 35 student and faculty participants learned how to administer Narcan, and received a rescue kit from the Steve Rummler Hope Network.