In anticipation of International Recovery Day on September 30, USC sent out a memo to remind students that there are many resources available to prevent and treat complications related to drug use. Narcan, an over-the-counter product, is being offered to all students on the USC Student Health Insurance Plan at no charge.
Narcan, more generically known as Naloxone, is a drug with life-saving capabilities meant to remedy opioid overdoses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Opioids were involved in 80,411 overdose deaths in 2021 in the United States (a little over three-quarters of all drug overdose deaths).
According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), preliminary data indicates there were 6,843 opioid-related overdose deaths in California in 2021, and 5,722 of these deaths were related to fentanyl.
State Public Health Officer and CDHP Director Dr. Tomás J. Aragón said that Naloxone can save lives.
“Many overdose deaths can be prevented with Naloxone, a life-saving drug that’s available to many colleges and universities at no cost,” said Dr. Aragón. “Some colleges already make Naloxone and overdose education a top priority, and our goal is to continue supporting them while also breaking additional barriers and stigma that may be preventing us from talking about overdose and keeping students alive.”
Vice President and Chief Campus Health Officer Sarah Van Orman said overdoses are unfortunately frequent, but “carrying naloxone (Narcan) can save someone’s life, " she said in an email sent to students, faculty and staff on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, opioid overdoses are too common in both our community as well as in the overall city of Los Angeles,” said Dr. Van Orman. “Anyone can get and carry Narcan in their room, in their car, in their backpack and potentially use it if they’re in a situation where they suspect somebody may be having an opioid overdose.”
The CDPH warns that there are ways to tell if someone is having an opioid overdose. These signs include constricted “pinpoint pupils,” a loss of consciousness, cold or discolored skin, choking and gurgling sounds, limpness, slowness, and weakness.
The drug has only been offered over-the-counter in California since July 2023, but there is already legislation approaching the governor’s desk that would require insurance companies to cover over-the-counter Narcan. USC has made it available through USC Pharmacies and other locations.
“Narcan has been available as a prescription product since 2015… DPS officers have been trained in using Narcan (and carrying it) for opioid reversal since 2019,” USC stated.
Students can pick up Naloxone at USC Pharmacies free of charge at any time needed.