Inspiring the Next Generation: CHSU OPC Brings Overdose Prevention Training to Duncan Polytechnical High School Students

On April 7th and 8th, the California Health Sciences University’s (CHSU) Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC) provided training to four separate classes of high school students at Duncan Polytechnical High School in Fresno, CA. The students were part of the Medical Academy of Science and Health (MASH), a specialized pathway that allows students to focus on healthcare fields such as Nursing Services, Pharmacy Technician, or Rehabilitation Therapy. Over the course of four years, students gain certifications, training, and hands-on experience to better prepare for future careers in healthcare.

OPC board members delivered a brief didactic presentation before transitioning into small group sessions, where each student was trained to recognize an overdose, administer Narcan, and follow appropriate post-naloxone administration steps. These skills are valuable not only for students pursuing healthcare careers, but also for young individuals preparing to transition to college environments where risk exposure may increase. Students were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions about how accidental overdoses occur and what precautions they can take.

By engaging students at an early stage in their academic journey, OPC hopes to inspire a generation of healthcare professionals who are not only clinically skilled, but also committed to compassionate, stigma-free care. These experiences reinforce the importance of community-based education and highlight the impact that future providers can have long before entering clinical practice.

The Overdose Prevention Committee is under the CHSU Chapter of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), which is the nation’s largest network of osteopathic medical students. They are an American Osteopathic Association (AOA)-affiliated, student-led and student-driven organization with direct representation to the AOA.

SOMA shall:

• Utilize our direct affiliation with the American Osteopathic Association to advance the interests and viewpoints of osteopathic medical students.
• Educate and prepare osteopathic leaders and advocates.
• Maintain open and transparent lines of communication to our student members as we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our members and organization.
• Advance collaborative relationships that promote osteopathic medicine in the greater healthcare community.