B.C. to ensure naloxone is available on all university campuses

A steering committee has identified early actions for post-secondary institutions to follow in the event of an overdose on campus.

The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education says early actions it identified include providing clarity on contacting emergency services, expanding awareness of toxic drug alerts and overdose prevention, as well as ensuring consistent access to naloxone. 

The ministry says it is developing medical response guidelines, ordering nasal naloxone that will be distributed to the 25 public post-secondary institutions and launching an overdose awareness campaign that will be rolled out during the fall semester.

WATCH | B.C.'s minister of mental health and addictions on the changes: 

B.C. minister outlines new actions for overdose prevention on campus

5 months ago

Duration 3:33

The province says it will implement the suggestions of a steering committee formed in response to the fatal overdose of a University of Victoria student whose parents say she died after a delay in administering naloxone and starting CPR. BC Today guest host Amy Bell asks the minister responsible what changes will be in place for students this fall.

The review comes after the coroner called an inquest into the fatal overdose in January of a University of Victoria student whose parents say she died after a delay in administering naloxone and starting CPR.

The ministry says the steering committee, which was formed in May, will continue to meet this summer to establish a provincewide response that will be put into practice at all of B.C.'s public post-secondary institutions by the fall semester.

Such practices may include training guidelines for campus security personnel, communication guidelines for institutions during a medical emergency, and developing best practices for communication protocols on emergency contacts.