Overdose Prevention
One way HOPE Services provides safety to WSU students and staff is through promoting
overdose prevention materials.
This includes naloxone, fentanyl test strips, medlocks, and medication disposal information.
Naloxone
Naloxone is a safe medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.
Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin),
codeine, and morphine.
- Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids like fentanyl, heroin and prescription medications. It is an easy-to-use nasal spray that anyone can administer.
- Naloxone has no effects on someone with no opioids in their system.
- Narcan is the brand name for naloxone. There are other formulations and brands. The generic name is "naloxone".
- Naloxone should be given to anyone who shows signs of an opioid overdose or when an overdose is suspected. recognizing the signs and knowing how to administer it can save a life.
- Facts about Naloxone
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal substance overdoses in the United States.
- Fentanyl is up to fifty times stronger than heroin and up to a hundred times stronger than morphine.
- It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous.
- There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and Illicitly manufactured
fentanyl
- Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-staged cancer.
- Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is distributed through illegal drug markets and makes up most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose.
- Substances may be laced with fentanyl and it can be impossible to tell without fentanyl test strips.
- The Facts about Fentanyl
Harm Reduction Techniques
There are plenty of methods we can use to stay safe from the harm caused by substance misuse. Techniques such as medication disposal, medlocks, and fentanyl test strips can help to prevent against harmful substances.
- Medication disposal allows for safe and judgement free disposal of many different types of drugs and substances.
- Personal medication disposal bags are provided on campus by HOPE Service found in Student health at
- Medications can also be disposed of at any local or chain pharmacy.
- Medication locks can act as a prevention method against unintentional use of medications and medication theft.
- Medication provided by student health will come with a medication lock if they are potentially harmful.
- Fentanyl test strips can be used on substances to check for potential fentanyl lacing. Fentanyl test strips are easy to use and one of the only ways to test for fentanyl contamination.
- Fentanyl test strips and other forms of overdose prevention can be requested from .