Universities take steps to address opioid crisis
‘We’d be naive to think that (an overdose) couldn’t happen to one of our students’
CALGARY— With a new school year around the corner, governments and universities are teaming up to ensure that the next class of students are more than just book smart, particularly when it comes to the country’s ongoing opioid crisis.
On Monday, Health Canada issued a nationwide alert to post-secondary students, warning them of the signs and hazards of opioid overdose.
Citing parties associated with orienta- tion week, the alert warns students to guard against the risk of overdose by recognizing that drugs — and even alcohol — can be tainted with life-threatening substances such as fentanyl, which is about 100 times more toxic than heroin.
Kevin Friese, an assistant dean of health and wellness at the University of Alberta, said the institution is aware that student celebrations often go hand-inhand with the new school year, and with those celebrations come risks.
“We’re aware that various forms of consumption may take place in some of those settings, whether it’s alcohol, or whether it’s other forms of drugs and substances.”
According to the Alberta government, 733 people died from apparent accidental opioid overdoses in 2017 — an aver- age of two Albertans every day — compared to 555 deaths in 2016. In both years, more deaths occurred between July and December than in the first six months of those years. Calgary’s fire department also reported a record-breaking 144 opioid overdoses last month.
This year’s back-to-school season at MRU will go beyond academic orientation and welcome events by including new harm-reduction initiatives for students living on campus.
“This fall, we will be installing cabinets where there will be public locations or community locations within residence buildings where anyone can break into them and there will be naloxone spray,” said Kandi McElary, the director of wellness services at the university.
Available as an injection and a nasal spray, naloxone is a drug that blocks opioid receptors in the nervous system and temporarily counteracts the effects of an overdose to leave time for an emergency response.
“We wanted to do specific campaigns and initiatives because the students are here 24-7,” she added.
McElary said that resident assistants also receive naloxone training, and students living on campus can access naloxone kits in main offices of residences.
Resident building managers have all been trained in administration of the antidote, as well, she said.
To date, there have been no logged overdoses in MRU residences, McElary said.
She added that the post-secondary institution partnered with Alberta Health Services at the onset of the opioid crisis to “understand what the issue is and how it impacts our student population.”
“We’d be naive to think that (an overdose) couldn’t happen to one of our students,” McElary said.
She pointed out that in addition to arming housing staff with the resources to respond to opioid overdoses, campus security is trained to administer naloxone injections and spray, and naloxone training sessions are offered to students, staff and faculty.
Over the past two years, the University of Alberta has also undertaken an opioid awareness campaign, reaching out to students and the broader community with information about the risks of drug and alcohol use, and strategies for reducing harm.
Friese described the campaign as a multi-pronged approach that kicks off in the fall, and uses posters, social media and seminars, focused particularly on fostering awareness around fentanyl.
Throughout the upcoming fall term, the institution has scheduled training sessions to teach staff, students and faculty how to administer naloxone.
“Similar to having access to an EpiPen, we want to ensure that people are being conscious of the fact that they may be in contact with another individual who inadvertently overdoses,” Friese added.
“The intent is to shift the culture with regard to naloxone to one that you don’t need to be a user to carry a kit.”
The sessions, which the university piloted in the fall of 2017, are currently offered monthly from September to December.
Friese said that the school also plans to offer the one-hour sessions over the winter 2019 term, but individuals can request one-on-one consults or find comparable services at other training centres in the city.
“Alberta Health Services (AHS) is offering those kits free of charge,” he explained. “There are no questions asked if someone is coming to any site, whether it’s our site here on campus or a site in the greater community.
According to AHS, there are more than a dozen walk-in clinics in Edmonton offering training and kits, and more than 20 in Calgary. No ID or prescriptions are required.
Between Jan. 1, 2016, and March 31, 2018, community pharmacies and other registered sites in Calgary distributed 17,556 naloxone kits, and 14,357 in Edmonton.
“Our approach to the promotion of naloxone on campus really falls under a harm-reduction model,” Friese explained, “which is recognizing that we want to meet people where they’re at in terms of their usage and really taking a nonjudgmental approach to supporting our community.
“You may be attending an event, or party where an overdose occurs. Everybody can benefit from having a naloxone kit.”
Peace officers with University of Alberta protective services also carry naloxone nasal sprays, but director Marcel Roth said no officers have been called to any overdose incidents.
At the University of Calgary, the wellness centre’s nurse manager, Linda Hastie, said there are no plans to roll out harm-reduction initiatives specifically for the upcoming semester, but stressed that the university has multiple strategies in place already.
According to Hastie, U of C security officers also carry naloxone spray, and attend “refresher training.”
“They’ve been trained with the nasal spray, but because there are so many injectable naloxone kits out there, we thought that it would be helpful to train them on how to give the injectable ones, as well,” she said.
The U of C also has a student medical response team, which includes paramedics and a medical resident, that functions during school semesters.
“They are all trained on how to administer and they carry naloxone,” Hastie said. “They’re on-call Monday to Friday and on Thursday nights when the student bar has their drink specials.”
In May, the University of Calgary’s student wellness centre received $65,000 from the Alberta government to promote harm reduction.
Hastie said the money will help the university kick-start a campus-wise campaign that challenges stigma around drug use.
“It’s geared toward promotion, awareness, education and engagement on campus,” she said.
Although Hastie hasn’t heard of an overdose occurring at the university, she urged incoming students to “be careful with what you’re taking.”
“We all know that there are a lot of drugs that are laced with fentanyl, so even if you think you’re taking ecstasy, it may be laced,” she explained.
“Don’t take drugs by yourself, know your dealer and don’t take drugs from somebody you don’t know.”
Hastie added that students who encounter an overdose shouldn’t hesitate to call an ambulance, citing the Good Samaritan Drug Act that passed in May 2017.
“(The act) protects you if you call 911 and have drugs,” Hastie said. “Call 911, save a life and don’t worry about getting arrested.”
“There are a lot of drugs that are laced with fentanyl, so even if you think you’re taking ecstasy, it may be laced.” LINDA HASTIE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY WELLNESS CENTRE NURSE MANAGER