A majority of young adults are willing to come to the aid of someone experiencing an overdose, but few of them know how to administer naloxone, according to a new study by School of Public Health researchers.<\/p>\n
Published in the journal\u00a0<\/span>JAMA Pediatrics<\/em><\/a>, the study examined opioid overdose knowledge among college students across the United States and found that fewer than 15 percent of the students surveyed knew how to administer naloxone, which can reverse the effects of opioid overdose when it is provided quickly.<\/p>\n The results also showed that only 30 percent of students understood what naloxone is used for. However, nearly 62 percent of students reported that they could identify at least one sign of an opioid overdose, and nearly 67 percent felt comfortable calling emergency services if they witnessed an overdose.<\/p>\n The study is the first to examine this subject among adolescents and young adults. As fentanyl and other synthetic drugs drive a new wave of the opioid crisis in America\u2014fentanyl-related fatal overdoses\u00a0<\/span>tripled<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>among adolescents between 2019 and 2021\u2014knowing how\u00a0<\/span>to administer this medication in an emergency can be a lifesaving skill.<\/p>\n \u201cOur findings can serve as a starting point for understanding baseline levels of opioid overdose and naloxone knowledge among college students,\u201d says study lead author\u00a0<\/span>Christina Freibott<\/a>, a PhD student in health services research at SPH. With tailored approaches, \u201cthere are many different ways that campuses can increase student awareness of naloxone, such as combining opioid education with hands-on naloxone training, or having naloxone accessible to students on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n Narcan, the nasal spray form of naloxone, is\u00a0<\/span>safe and effective<\/a>, she adds. It is now available for purchase over the counter, with out-of-pocket costs ranging between $40-$80, depending on insurance coverage. \u201cHaving naloxone in your home or knowing where you can access it at school or work can save time in case of emergency,\u201d Freibott says.<\/p>\n For the study, the researchers examined opioid overdose recognition, naloxone knowledge and use, and willingness to intervene during an overdose using data from the 2021-2022\u00a0<\/span>Healthy Minds Study<\/a>. The study is the largest\u00a0and\u00a0most comprehensive survey of mental health in higher education, administered annually to students at hundreds of US colleges and universities.<\/p>\n The responses also differed substantially by race\/ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. For example, participants who identified was Alaska Native or Pacific Islander, transgender, or LGBTQ were more knowledge about naloxone than those who identified as other race\/ethnicities, sexual orientations, or male or female genders, respectively. Alaska Native\/Pacific Islander and female participants were better able to recognize an overdose than participants of other race\/ethnicities and gender identities.<\/p>\n \u201cDocumenting the attitudes and knowledge of adolescents and young adults regarding opioid overdose prevention is a necessary first step for informing future public health approaches in school settings,\u201d says study senior author\u00a0<\/span>Sarah Lipson<\/a>, associate professor of health law, policy & management and principal investigator of the\u00a0<\/span>Healthy Minds Network<\/a>, the organization that leads the Healthy Minds Study.<\/p>\n And while it is promising that two-thirds of students say they are willing to intervene during an overdose, that means that one-third of students are not\u2014perhaps because of concerns about disciplinary repercussions at their school, the researchers say.<\/p>\n \u201cSome colleges, including BU, have a\u00a0<\/span>Good Samaritan Policy<\/a>, which encourages students to call for help during a drug- or alcohol-related emergency without fear of disciplinary repercussions,\u201d says Freibott. But other institutions, she says, may limit protections to the caller or to alcohol-only emergencies\u2014or offer no protections at all\u2014which can make students hesitant to call for help.<\/p>\n In future research, the team plans to track opioid overdose prevention policies at colleges and universities across the country and learn about any challenges that campus leaders face as they develop and implement prevention strategies. The new findings can especially help inform these efforts for colleges and universities in states with proposed legislation around opioid overdose prevention services on campus, such as California\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>AB 1841 bill<\/a>, says study coauthor\u00a0<\/span>Noel Vest<\/a>, assistant professor of community health sciences.<\/p>\n \u201cThese legislative actions will require schools to equip residential staff with the necessary training and resources to respond effectively to overdose emergencies but also empowers students to take action in critical situations,\u201d Vest says. \u201cWe hope that this study can prioritize harm reduction, destigmatize seeking help for substance use issues, and foster a culture of care and support on college campuses.\u201d<\/p>\n The study was also coauthored by\u00a0<\/span>Michael Stein<\/a>, chair and professor of health law, policy & management.<\/p>\n For members of the BU community, Student Health Services offers Overdose Prevention Trainings each semester.\u00a0<\/span>Click here for more info<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n