Jameson Balda, Democracy Fellow (‘25 Political Science and Public Administration)
Around the county, many college campuses have been asking themselves the same question: “What is our role in providing substance abuse support to students?”. When asked this question, the students of James Madison University think back to “Weeks of Welcome”, and the “8 Key Ethical Questions” presented to them. Leaders at Ethical Reasoning in Action explain the issue of Opioid overdose to new students and then ask students who they believe is responsible for providing solutions. This brings up the question of Naloxone and its nasal spray form Narcan, and whether or not it should be provided on college campuses.
Naloxone is a substance used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and is used by first responders to alleviate the effects of overdoses, while Narcan is an over-the-counter medication provided at pharmacies. Both work to prevent opioid overdoses by blocking the effects the opioids have on the brain. Instead of counterbalancing the symptoms of opioid overdoses, naloxone works to overcome the effects and block the effects of opioids by overtaking them in the brain. Because of this, naloxone can only be used to counter the effects of opioids, and will not affect a person using any other substance. Narcan is administered via the nose and takes 2-3 minutes to take full effect. It wears off after 30-90, depending on the person, and it only risks harming the user if they are pregnant or nursing at the time.
Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 49,860 in 2019 to 81,806 in 2022, a huge increase, especially considering overdoses only averaged 8,000 a year in 1999. These meteoric rises have increased calls to provide more first responders, public schools, college campuses, and other public places with Narcan, to prevent the worst effects of Opioid overdoses. At pharmacies around the country, Narcan costs around $50 for a pack of two. Medicaid, the Federal health insurance program, also covers the cost of Narcan for eligible members. While this may seem as if it is accessible, Dr. Micheal Barent, an associate professor of health policy and management at Harachrv T.H. Chan School of Public Health claims it’s “unlikely that most folks will drop $40 to $50 on Narcan…they are also prioritizing rent, food, and also paying opioids”. Recognizing this, state legislators in California have sponsored Assembly Bill 2729, a bill that requires public schools to have Narcan and train their staff on how to administer it. Similarly, many colleges and universities have been adopting Narcan kits, providing them in accessible places, such as common areas of dorms and the offices of Resident Advisors.
However, there may be some issues with this strategy. According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, only 30% of college students know what Narcan is used for. The study argues that there seems to be a lack of student awareness of the signs of opioid overdoses, though it suggests that there may be ways to provide hands-on training that would ensure its effectiveness.
Others are concerned with the cost of the policy. Buying Narcan kits in bulk often costs about $50 per kit, which would incur some costs for universities and student life. However, some studies find that colleges that have added Narcan to their campuses have been able to partner with nonprofits and government institutions to provide it at an even lower cost, while also getting support for Opioid and Naloxone training on college campuses, ensuring its effectiveness.
When JMU students were asked the question, “Should James Madison University Provide More Substance Abuse Support?”almost every respondent agreed that JMU should provide as much support as they can. While some were worried about the cost, they argued that it would be minimal compared to the benefits of medications like Narcan. Almost every student agreed that the University has an obligation to prepare for health emergencies that might happen to their students, especially the ones who live in dorms on campus. The opioid crisis will continue to affect students across JMU and the country, and the solutions that states and universities consider will continue to dominate the public consciousness. It is likely that, as the years go on, these issues will only become more prominent and expand to various issues concerning drug use.
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