NARCAN/Fentanyl Test Strips and Training

Policy: PEAO211
Steward: Executive Assistant to VP for Finance and Operations
Contact: ryenney@spscc.edu
Effective Date: 16 Oct 2024
Last Revised: 23 Oct 2024
Last Reviewed: 16 Oct 2024
Applies to: All campus community members – Staff, faculty, students and visitors.
Purpose: 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. To establish guidelines governing the utilization, distribution and training for the use of naloxone (NARCAN) and Fentanyl test strips as directed by House Bill 2112 for the SPSCC community.

Policy

South Puget Sound Community College will follow House Bill 2112 that 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.

Definitions

Naloxone (NARCAN) is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. But, naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system, and it is not a treatment for opioid use disorder. Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, and morphine.
Fentanyl Test Strips are a low-cost method of helping prevent drug overdoses and reducing harm. Fentanyl Test Strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in all different kinds of drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables). Fentanyl Test Strips provide people who use drugs and communities with important information about fentanyl in the illicit drug supply so they can take steps to reduce risk of overdose.
Child Procedures:
  1. NARCAN/Fentanyl Test Strips and Training
References: