CHSU’s Overdose Prevention Committee Led First Outreach Event at Fresno State

Pictured left to right: Anakin the Manikin, Aicha Naouai, Mariya Leshchuk, Roma Ramirez-Bueno

Written by Aicha Naouai, CHSU-COM student and OPC Chair

On October 16, CHSU’s Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC), formerly known as the Overdose Prevention Task Force, led their first-ever outreach event at Fresno State.

The OPC partnered with Fresno State’s “Wellness Wednesday” team to promote harm reduction by increasing access to naloxone (Narcan) and fentanyl testing strips, in addition to reducing stigma related to substance use and overdose.

The groups gathered outside the Student Health and Counseling Center for several hours, along with Anakin, OPC’s new training manikin, who captured the attention of faculty, staff, and students.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Fresno Madera Medical Society, the OPC team acquired Anakin, a Basic Life Support manikin, for outreach events like this one allowing attendees to apply their newly acquired skills under the direct supervision of OPC.

Harm reduction practices prioritize the well-being of people and decrease the negative consequences of recreational drug use, and sexual activity without requiring abstinence. Recognizing not everyone is ready or able to stop using drugs, harm reduction strategies mitigate the negative repercussions associated with drug use, including overdose, through providing overdose education and distributing overdose reversal medications.

Fentanyl testing strips are a preventative measure intended to detect fentanyl-laced products and prevent individuals from unknowingly taking fentanyl and overdosing. In contrast, naloxone is a treatment measure intended to reverse opioid-induced cardiovascular collapse after an individual has overdosed.

At the event, OPC distributed handouts that informed attendees on how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and outlined the steps to effectively respond to an overdose. Participants practiced these steps on Anakin, which allowed them to familiarize themselves with how to administer naloxone and better prepare themselves to respond in a real-life situation. As part of this new partnership, OPC will be on the Fresno State campus at least once a month to promote harm reduction.

Fresno State excels in offering its students and staff harm-reduction resources. In addition to its new CHSU OPC partnership, the university has multiple locations on campus, including a vending machine, that offer students and staff naloxone, fentanyl testing strips, hygiene products, and over-the-counter medications free of charge and without any questions asked.

The university also offers robust substance use disorder support programs for those interested in or who are already in recovery. Miranda Rogers, Fresno State’s Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Prevention and Recovery Specialist, assists students and staff in navigating substance use challenges and facilitates the “No Wrong Door: Bulldogs for Recovery” group.

CHSU’s OPC looks forward to continuing its collaboration with Fresno State and exploring additional opportunities to support the community.