Reducing the Likelihood of Opioid Overdose Fatalities on College and University Campuses: An Action Plan and Model

Abstract

For more than two decades there has been a continuous rise in opioid overdose related deaths. The majority of the deaths include the age range when, traditionally, individuals are likely to attend college or university. As a result, Vassar College has taken the important initiative and created and implemented a new opioid overdose intervention strategy and action plan called AED+. AED+ expands on the Model of Greater Awareness, Training and Increased Availability of and Accessibility to Life Saving Intervention Devices; a model that was created based on AED devices improving outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest emergencies. Similar to AED's improving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes, the + component of the AED+ initiative increases awareness and provides basic, targeted education about naloxone and its use. Furthermore, the education includes information about naloxone's greater availability and its more immediate access across the campus by students, staff, faculty, administrators, and visitors in the event of a suspected opioid overdose. Starting in May 2023, members of the school's Health Service and senior administrative leaders identified it necessary to be proactive and not reactive to managing an opioid overdose in the campus community. Although Vassar College has not recently experienced an opioid overdose, it is confidently projected that these targeted actions will proactively and positively reduce the likelihood of opioid-related fatalities on campus. Furthermore, it is the purpose of this article to share the AED+ model so other colleges and universities can modify it to best fit their unique setting in order to improve opioid overdose outcomes.

Keywords: Deaths; NARCAN®; Naloxone; Opioid overdose; Opioid overdose treatment; Opioids.