Lowering barriers to naloxone access through a student-led harm reduction program

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the opioid crisis has had devastating effects on communities across the country. In the wake of 4 University of Southern California (USC) student overdose deaths in 2019, USC pharmacy students initiated a naloxone distribution program called NaloxoneSC. This program has distributed free naloxone kits, fentanyl test strips, and overdose prevention training to hundreds of students thus far. This report aims to provide a framework for the implementation of similar harm reduction programs at other universities.

Objectives: NaloxoneSC partnered with USC Student Health to implement a naloxone distribution program that expands access to naloxone and increases opioid overdose education within the USC community.

Setting: USC undergraduate campus and Health Sciences Campus.

Methods: Students can follow the steps for obtaining a naloxone kit listed on the NaloxoneSC website. Watching a 10-minute training video or attending a naloxone training workshop completes the opioid overdose education. The kit is picked up by the student from 1 of 2 USC Student Health Center locations, Engemann or Eric Cohen. Each kit is packaged with Narcan nasal spray and fentanyl test strips.

Results: In 1 year, the program received at least 320 naloxone kit requests. Demand for naloxone kits increased over time, and roughly 4 times as many students requested kits from Engemann than from Eric Cohen. Approximately 600 students have received opioid overdose education through NaloxoneSC.

Conclusions: In 1 year, more than 300 USC students voluntarily requested naloxone kits from NaloxoneSC. These findings suggest a need for increased access to this resource on college campuses. Peer-to-peer education and naloxone kit distribution are feasible and effective strategies that help address public health concerns and reduce harm among university students. NaloxoneSC can serve as an example for other college campuses or entities to newly implement or expand their own harm reduction measures.