Over the summer of 2024, B.C.’s Post-Secondary Overdose Prevention and Response Steering Committee identified actions for institutions to undertake to help students and employees stay safe and reduce the risk and harms related to toxic-drug poisonings.
Camosun College has begun to implement these provincial strategies on campus.
There are four elements of the provincially mandated strategy for post-secondary institutions:
Contacting emergency services: 911 must be contacted immediately, with no hesitation, when there is a medical emergency. Suspected overdoses are a medical emergency.
New emergency signs have been affixed across both campuses. The signs clearly indicate to call 911 in case of a medical emergency. The signs also provide specific locations to provide to emergency providers.
If you witness a medical emergency, including a suspected overdose, call 911 and follow up with a call to 3075 (250-370-3075) the college’s internal emergency line and request that First Aid attend the situation.
Access to naloxone: Naloxone is a medication that can quickly reverse the effects of an overdose from opioids. The province is supporting institutions by distributing nasal naloxone to all 25 public post-secondary institutions.
Camosun has six cabinets containing nasal naloxone kits for emergency use in the time before first aid staff or paramedics are on scene. The cabinets will be placed in central locations to enable easy access.
| Lansdowne campus | Interurban campus |
|---|---|
Fisher in the main lobby
Wilna Thomas near the second floor washrooms
Young near the Fitness Centre and first aid room | Centre for Business and Access (CBA)/Technologies Building (TEC) on the first floor, near the area that divides the two buildings Centre for Trades Education and Innovation (CTEI) in the atrium Liz Ashton Campus Centre (LACC) second floor atrium |
Overdose prevention awareness: To support overdose-prevention work on campus, the provincial steering committee is developing an awareness campaign that highlights when and how to use nasal and injectable naloxone, as well as information on harm-reduction and treatment services. This awareness campaign will be rolled out during the fall 2024 semester.
Expanding awareness of toxic drug alerts: The BC Centre for Disease Control, in partnership with the regional health authorities and community partners, provide free, real-time text messaging services for anyone to receive toxic-drug alerts or share information about toxic drugs in their community through the Toward the Heart website.
International Overdose Awareness Day
Aug. 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. This global event raises awareness of overdose and helps to reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths.
Contact information
Rodney Porter
Communications and MarketingCamosun College