Opioid and Fentanyl Prevention

Why Opioid and Fentanyl Prevention?

Over the past two decades, the United States has experienced a rise in deaths from drug overdoses. The vast majority of these deaths involved some form of opioids, including heroin, prescription painkillers, and, most prevalently in recent years, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Fentanyl and related synthetic opioids alone are involved in most methamphetamine, cocaine, and prescription opioid overdose deaths—the next most common substances associated with overdose deaths.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid commonly used as a recreational drug. Counterfeit drugs are often made of fentanyl. Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in different kinds of drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables).

House Bill 2112 requires Washington State colleges and universities to provide opioid and fentanyl prevention education and awareness information to all students, including information about the “Good Samaritan” statute in RCW 69.50.315. LCC also provides Naloxone and fentanyl strips to students on campus in various accessible locations.

Source: https://www.shadac.org/

What is Naloxone (brand name NARCAN®)?

NARCAN® is the brand name for naloxone. It’s a medicine that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdose, such as from heroin, fentanyl, or prescription opioid medicine overdose. NARCAN® prevents death by reversing the effects of an opioid medicine on the brain and breathing. When given right away, NARCAN® can work in minutes to reverse an overdose.

Where to get FREE Fentanyl test strips and Narcan®

NARCAN® and Fentanyl test strips are available in the wellness vending machine, located on the 2nd floor of the Student Center directly across from the food pantry (Student Center 213A) and in the Food Pantry.

LCC also supplies NARCAN® in the AED cabinets throughout campus. Refer to the campus map for specific AED locations.

Overdose signs

During an overdose, a person's breathing can be dangerously slowed or stopped, causing brain damage or death. It's important to recognize the signs and act fast, even before emergency workers arrive.

Signs of overdose:

Unconsciousness or inability to awaken
Slow or shallow breathing or difficulty breathing such as choking sounds or a gurgling/snoring noise from a person who cannot be awakened
Discolored skin (especially in nails or lips)
Small, constricted "pinpoint pupils" that don't react to light

Overdose infographic. Signs of Opioid Overdose: Breathing slow or absent; cannot be woken or not moving; snoring, coughing, gurgling, or choking sounds; cold and clammy skin; extremely small pupils; discolouration of lips and nails; dizziness and disorientation. Call 9-1-1 then Give breaths (1 breath every 5 seconds); use naloxone if you have it.

Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

What to do if you think someone is overdosing

Call 911 Immediately.*
Administer naloxone, if available and safe to do so.
Try to keep the person awake and breathing. If there is no pulse or respirations within 10 seconds, begin CPR and deploy AED (if available).
Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives.

*Most states have laws that may protect a person who is overdosing or the person who called for help from legal trouble. Washington state has the Good Samaritan law that does this.

https://stopoverdose.org/basics/good-samaritan-law/#naloxone-legal-wa

RCW 69.50.315

Learn more about opioid overdoses and using NARCAN®

How do I know if I'm witnessing an opioid emergency?

The truth about opioid emergencies

How to use NARCAN®

Learn more at www.narcan.com

Contact Safety & Security

The Safety & Security Office is located in the Student Center on the first floor (main lobby). To reach a campus security office call 2911 from a campus phone or (360) 442-2911 from any other phone.