Overdose Prevention FAQs

  • Initiated by SGA and TCU undergraduate students, TCU administration agrees and believes it is important to increase campus-wide access to a life-saving medication, Naloxone, in the case of an opioid overdose.
  • Many opioid overdoses are accidental and the user may not know that Fentanyl or other opioids are present. DEA Laboratory testing in 2023 indicates that 7 out of every 10 pills seized contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. A lethal dose is defined as 2mg or higher (DEA, 2023). Fentanyl can be laced into any pill, including opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and others.
  • The White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose is a nationwide call-to-action to stakeholders across all sectors to commit to save lives by increasing training on and access to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications.
  • Opioid Overdose Emergency Kits are located in most buildings on campus near the automated external defibrillators. To view locations visit maps.tcu.edu, under “Health, Wellness and Safety” select the box “Overdose Emergency Kits.”
  • Overdose prevention trainings are offered on campus monthly by Substance Use & Recovery Services . Follow @tcustudents and @what2do_tcu to stay up to date on events on campus. Find out more here
  • Narcan is available over the counter, you can find a list of retailers here (link to https://narcan.com/buy)
  • In March 2023, the FDA approved the Over-the-Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray, read more here.
  • No, instructions are provided in each Opioid Overdose Emergency Kit. Nasal Naloxone is very intuitive and user-friendly. If you would like to receive additional training about opioids, overdose prevention, and Naloxone – the SURS office offers monthly trainings open to any TCU student, faculty, or staff. surs.tcu.edu
  • Visit Administering Naloxone Nasal Spray for more details and a video.
  • The opioid crisis impacts everyone nationwide. Students and employees at TCU as well as every college campus and community can be at risk of accidental opioid overdose.
  • Each day more than 200 people in the U.S. die after overdosing on opioids, including prescription pain medication, heroin and fentanyl – creating a national health crisis. However, opioid overdose deaths often can be prevented if the person receives emergency medical care and timely administration of an opioid antagonist, such as naloxone.
  • For more information visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

 

  • Opioids are a type of drug used for pain relief and include prescription medications, such as oxycodone and illicit drugs, such as heroin and illicitly-made fentanyl. Some opioids such as buprenorphine and methadone are used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD).
  • Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and can be used medically to treat severe pain. However, it is also illicitly manufactured and sold through illegal drug markets. It may be sold as fentanyl, show up in other drugs to make them more potent, or be an unintentional contaminant.
  • Laboratory testing in 2023 indicates that 7 out of every 10 pills seized by DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. A lethal dose is defined as 2mg or higher. (DEA, 2023)
  • More information can be found on the DEA Fentanyl factsheet.
  • Lay, spray and stay. This is a good reminder of what to do when you administer Naloxone nasal spray.
  • Naloxone does not replace emergency medical intervention. It is important to get the person medical attention. Call TCU Police immediately after administering the first dose. Call 817-257-7777.
  • Visit Administering Naloxone Nasal Spray for more details on the steps to take and a video showing the nasal spray being administered.
  • TCU has a Medical Amnesty/Good Samaritan Policy that exempts students from formal University discipline (alcohol violations, fines, etc.) for those receiving emergency medical attention as well as for the individual(s) who contact TCU staff for assistance (Good Samaritan). Read more here.

 

STEP 1 - CHECK person if you suspect an overdose. STEP 1: CHECK person if you suspect
an overdose
• CHECK for responsiveness – person
will not wake up, is very sleepy, or
not breathing well
• Shake the person gently
•Yell “Wake Up!”
Step 2 - GIVE 1 dose in the nose. STEP 2: GIVE 1 dose in the nose
• HOLD the nasal spray device with
thumb on bottom of plunger
• INSERT the nozzle into either
NOSTRIL
• PRESS the plunger firmly to spray
1st dose
•1 nasal spray device contains 1 dose
STEP 3: CALL • Call TC PD at 817-257-7777 after spraying the 1st dose STEP 3: CALL
• Call TC PD at 817-257-7777
after spraying the 1st dose
STEP 4: WATCH & GIVE • Wait 2-3 minutes for person to wake up •If the person wakes up, go to step 5 •If the person does not wake up, spray a 2nd dose • Continue to give doses every 2-3 minutes until person wakes up or emergency personnel arrive STEP 4: WATCH & GIVE
• Wait 2-3 minutes for person to
wake up
•If the person wakes up, go to step 5
•If the person does not wake up,
spray a 2nd dose
• Continue to give doses every 2-3
minutes until person wakes up or
emergency personnel arrive
STEP 5: STAY • STAY with the person until emergency personnel arrive, even if the person wakes up •GIVE another dose if the person becomes very sleepy again STEP 5: STAY
• STAY with the person until
emergency personnel arrive, even if
the person wakes up
•GIVE another dose if the person
becomes very sleepy again
  • Yes, naloxone is not a replacement for medical intervention.
  • It is very important that you call TCU Police immediately after administering the first dose. Call 817-257-7777.
  • No. It is safe to give doses every two to three minutes until the person wakes up or emergency personnel arrive. (Narcan FAQ)
  • Nasal Narcan begins working within a few minutes and can last 60-120 minutes. More than one dose may be needed, this is why getting immediate medical care is critical. (Narcan FAQ)
Unusual sleepinessor unresponsiveness. Skin feels cold and clammy. Breathing will be slow or absent. Slow heartbeat or low blood pressure. Pupils are tiny. Nails and lips are blue.

Signs of Opoid Overdose-Unusual sleepiness or unresponsiveness. Skin feels cold and clammy. Breathing will be slow or absent. Slow heartbeat or low blood pressure. Pupils are tiny. Nails and lips are blue.

  • Naloxone only reverses overdose caused by opioids. If administered to someone experiencing other types of drug overdose, Naloxone will have no effect. Naloxone will not harm someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose.
  • If you are unsure if opioids are present in a person who is showing signs of overdose, it is encouraged to administer Naloxone in the case that opioids are present. If the individual does not respond, you may need to administer another dose of Naloxone or they may be overdosing on another substance not including opioids.
  • Be familiar with the signs of alcohol poisoning.
  • Naloxone does not replace emergency medical intervention. It is important to get the person medical attention. Call TCU Police immediately after administering the first dose. Call 817-257-7777.
  • TCU has a Medical Amnesty/Good Samaritan Policy that exempts students from formal University discipline (alcohol violations, fines, etc.) for those receiving emergency medical attention as well as for the individual(s) who contact TCU staff for assistance (Good Samaritan). Read more here.
  • Naloxone only reverses overdose caused by opioids. If administered to someone experiencing other types of drug overdose, Naloxone will have no effect. Naloxone will not harm someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose.
  • It is important to get the person medical attention. Call TCU Police immediately after administering the first dose. Call 817-257-7777.
  • TCU has a Medical Amnesty/Good Samaritan Policy that exempts students from formal University discipline (alcohol violations, fines, etc.) for those receiving emergency medical attention as well as for the individual(s) who contact TCU staff for assistance (Good Samaritan). Read more here.
  • When using Naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose, some people may experience opioid withdrawal symptoms when they wake up – such as shaking, sweating, nausea, or feeling anger.
  • Naloxone does not replace emergency medical intervention. It is important to get the person medical attention. Call TCU Police immediately after administering the first dose. Call 817-257-7777.
  • No, there is no punitive action for someone who does not intervene in an opioid overdose emergency.
  • Please intervene if and when possible. TCU has a Medical Amnesty/Good Samaritan Policy that exempts students from formal University discipline (alcohol violations, fines, etc.) for those receiving emergency medical attention as well as for the individual(s) who contact TCU staff for assistance (Good Samaritan). Read more here.
  • In the case of an overdose on campus, please call for help. This can save a person’s life.
  • TCU has a Medical Amnesty/Good Samaritan Policy that exempts students from formal University discipline (alcohol violations, fines, etc.) for those receiving emergency medical attention as well as for the individual(s) who contact TCU staff for assistance (Good Samaritan). Read more here.
  • TCU does abide by Drug Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and implements Alcohol and Drug Use Policies.
  • Current students may make an appointment with a Substance Use and Recovery Counselor in the SURS office by calling 817-257-7863
  • Anyone (parents, students, family members, friends) may submit a student of concern form to the Dean of Students office