Free naloxone and training offered to Texas colleges, community colleges and trade schools this fall
Naloxone Texas, a program of the Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders at the University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center, is launching a new initiative this fall aimed at colleges and universities across Texas to distribute free naloxone and provide overdose response training to students, faculty and staff.
The effort targets public and private universities, community colleges and trade schools in response to the growing opioid crisis affecting young adults in the state. Naloxone, known commercially as Narcan, is a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and save lives when administered quickly. Much like defibrillators or epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens), naloxone is a simple but powerful tool that can help bystanders respond in emergency situations before medical professionals arrive.
“Naloxone is more than a medication. It’s a tool that empowers students, friends and communities to save lives,” said Tara E. Karns-Wright, PhD, MS, director of Naloxone Texas and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Health Science Center. “At Naloxone Texas, we believe every college campus should be equipped with the knowledge and resources to respond to an opioid overdose. Thanks to the generous support of our funders at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Legislature, we’re making this life-saving medication more accessible and helping everyone become first responders in moments that matter most.”
Naloxone Texas will also participate in several back-to-school events at community colleges across the state this fall, including campuses in Austin, Houston and San Antonio. At these events, students and staff will have the opportunity to sign up for free naloxone kits, learn how to use them and ask questions about overdose prevention and treatment resources.
Event dates, locations, fact sheets, logos, b-roll and Spanish collateral can be found at this Dropbox link.
College administrators, student health services and campus organizations are encouraged to request free naloxone kits and schedule training sessions by visiting www.naloxonetexas.com. Tailored training programs and bulk naloxone orders are available.
Through funding from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and support from the Texas Legislature, Naloxone Texas offers access to overdose reversal medication and pathways to next steps. Services include:
- Free naloxone distribution: Available to both organizations and individuals, with a focus on areas at high risk for overdose based on county-level data
- Evidence-based training: On-demand, virtual modules that teach participants how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose
- Referrals to adolescent and adult treatment and recovery support services through the Be Well Clinic and the Be Well Texas Provider Network, both of which offer virtual and in-person care for substance use