Every year, tens of thousands of Americans die from opioid-related drug overdoses. Relative to the year prior, 2023 saw a slight decrease in deaths — 81,083 people died from opioid-related drug overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In March 2023, naloxone — a medication that reverses opioid overdose — was approved for over-the-counter sale by the Food and Drug Administration, expanding access to the life-saving drug. The modified FDA policy prompted efforts by colleges to improve prevention, intervention and education amid what has been declared an opioid epidemic.

While there was a decrease in opioid-related drug overdoses in 2023, college campuses continue to promote primary prevention efforts, education training programs and access to treatments.

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NaloxoneSC, led by students from the School of Pharmacy and the USC chapter of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists, provides information online about how to administer naloxone and fentanyl testing strips. The organization promotes prevention and intervention initiatives, including harm reduction resources for overdose emergencies.

Students are encouraged to know and recognize the signs of an overdose — and how they can respond to provide assistance, Chief Campus Health Officer Dr. Sarah Van Orman said in a briefing with the Daily Trojan and Annenberg Media Tuesday morning.

“We have a lot of availability of information training, as well as risk reduction supplies in the form of fentanyl tests,” Van Orman said. “What that means is that if students are choosing to use various drugs recreationally, [that they] can test those drugs for fentanyl, which is the most common opioid that might be adulterating various drugs.”

Narcan is available on campus at the Engemann and Eric Cohen Student Health Centers and the USC Pharmacy. Narcan is covered under USC’s Student Health Insurance Plan. Student Health team members will also table at the Trojan Farmers Market atin McCarthy Quad again this school year. They will provide information related to harm reduction distribution, campus health resources and specialty clinical services for students seeking support.

“There is effective treatment available,” Van Orman said. “[We encourage] people, if they or someone they care about is struggling with addiction, to reach out and we can help assist in getting them connected to treatment.”

Students can contact the Student Health call center, available 24/7, to speak with a licensed counselor, confidential advocate or health advice nurse. Mental Health and Counseling and Mental Health also offers specialty care services, including appointments with a counselor for support with substance use treatment.

Adulterated drugs — which may contain highly potent compounds, such as fentanyl — can increase the risk of an overdose.

“People really need to be aware … They may believe they’re consuming something else, but it actually contains an opioid, and that puts someone at high risk for overdose,” Van Orman said. “It’s really critical that everyone understands how they can potentially save a life with having access to and knowing how to administer naloxone.”

Knowing and recognizing the signs of an accidental overdose — which may include pale or blue discoloration of the lips or mouth, slow breathing and unconsciousness — are critical. Naloxone — an opioid antagonist — blocks opioid receptors, reversing the effects of an overdose. Administering naloxone should restore breathing to someone who is overdosing within two to three minutes.

While someone may present with early signs or not be fully alert, their condition can become critical suddenly.

“Somebody may have ingested something, whether that’s alcohol or another drug, and they may have that kind of altered consciousness,” Van Orman said. “Their alcohol or their drug level may still be rising because that substance has not been completely absorbed yet.”

Even after administering naloxone, students are encouraged to contact emergency services for the individual to receive immediate medical attention.

“If you ever use naloxone, call 911, because you don’t know if it’s going to be effective in reversing [an overdose],” Van Orman said. “Many types of opioids [have] an initial reversal, and then there’s more drug that’s entering the system from the stomach contents, so they might actually overdose again.”

While opioid usage on college campuses is estimated to be decreasing, Van Orman said, students and faculty continue to promote prevention and intervention education.

“Recognize that these types of situations can really be life threatening in an emergency, but there are things we can do to reduce risk,” Van Orman said. “We really want to encourage students to feel empowered, to feel trained and to feel like they have the skills to help.”