Five colleges receive grant to fight opioid abuse

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and five state colleges are recipients of a $250,000 grant against opioid abuse from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for the 2019-20 school year.

Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, as well as Northeastern Oklahoma A& M College, Northern Oklahoma College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University, will each receive a share of the grant money, which will fund campus efforts to prevent opioid misuse and provide referral services for those needing treatment.

“We appreciate this funding opportunity provided by our partners at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “The collaboration of state system campuses, the State Regents and ODMHSAS facilitated through this grant will provide these institutions with the resources they need to expand opioid misuse and overdose education efforts in their service areas across the state.”

Campuses will provide outreach, engagement and evidence- based prevention services, including health education, promotion and community consultation. Grant funds will be used to support training for faculty, staff and students in the prevention and treatment of opioid misuse and overdose, including naloxone administration, access to treatment services, how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose, and safe storage and disposal of opioids.