MADISON, Wis. – Residence halls at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are now equipped with life-saving naloxone kits thanks to a partnership between the university and Wisconsin Voices for Recovery.
This week, University Health Services installed 12 boxes in or near residence halls across campus, each set up with two doses of naloxone nasal spray, a breathing barrier in case of the need for CPR and instructions on how to administer the naloxone.
“We hope we never need the naloxone, but we’re really happy that it’s there and that it’s available to students and it’s located near other life-saving measures like an AED or fire extinguisher,” said Jenny Damask, UHS’ assistant director for high risk drinking prevention.
The boxes are provided through a partnership with Wisconsin Voices for Recovery, an organization that installs the boxes for free in public areas across the state.
Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, is a life-saving drug used to reverse an opioid overdose. The new additions to campus housing come after the Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued a public health advisory in August due to a drastic increase in deaths related to drugs laced with fentanyl.
“In recent years with the fentanyl lacing, fentanyl being added to pills and other drugs, we’ve seen an increase in deaths even in Dane County so we just want to be really proactive,” Damask said.
Opening a box will not trigger a police response, but students are encouraged to call 911 for help after they’ve administered the drug. University Health Services receives a text letting the agency know that it needs to be replenished.
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