Self-Care Saves Lives: OPC Promotes Harm Reduction at the CHSU Mental Health Fair

Written by Oluwabomi Adekoya, OMS-II, OPC Chair

The Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC) at California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) participated in a campus-wide Mental Health Fair, engaging students, faculty, staff, and community vendors in conversations about overdose prevention, mental wellness, and the importance of harm reduction as a form of self-care.

Throughout the event, OPC interacted with numerous students who visited the OPC table to learn more about the organization and receive free intranasal naloxone (Narcan). Before receiving naloxone, students reviewed the signs of an opioid overdose and demonstrated proper administration techniques using training devices.

Many participants confidently applied skills retained from previous OPC TDP naloxone trainings, highlighting the value of continued education and repeated opportunities to practice and reinforce lifesaving overdose response skills.

Central to OPC’s message was the idea that self-care is harm reduction. While self-care is often associated with rest, stress management, and emotional well-being, it also involves making informed decisions, recognizing potential risks, and taking proactive steps to protect ourselves and those around us.

Carrying naloxone (Narcan), understanding the risks associated with substance use, and knowing when and how to seek help are all practical ways to promote individual and community well-being.

At the Mental Health Fair, OPC connected with students, reinforced previously learned skills and introduced new members of the CHSU community to its mission. The event also provided an opportunity to extend outreach to university administrative staff and external vendors in attendance.

By incorporating overdose prevention into broader conversations about mental health and wellness, OPC helped promote awareness, preparedness and a more compassionate approach to substance use.

To learn more about the CHSU Overdose Prevention Committee and its community outreach efforts, contact SOMA-OPC at soma-opc@chsu.edu, follow @CHSU_OPC on Instagram, or explore additional OPC articles.