Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC)

Overdose Prevention Committee Overview

The California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC) was founded in 2019 to advance overdose prevention through education, advocacy, research, and community engagement.

The OPC Chair serves on the national Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Overdose Prevention Committee, connecting CHSU-COM to a nationwide network of osteopathic medical schools dedicated to reducing overdose deaths and improving access to prevention resources.

Our mission is to educate medical students about overdose prevention, engage with and serve our local community, advocate for evidence-based harm reduction strategies, and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and treatment resources.

As the organization has grown, CHSU-COM OPC has expanded its leadership structure to include five sub-chair positions:

• Chair: Represents OPC on the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Board and oversees committee initiatives.
• Academic Outreach Sub-Chair: Coordinates academic outreach initiatives with local schools and educational institutions for students and educators.
• Internal Education Sub-Chair: Leads overdose prevention education and programming within CHSU-COM.
• Research Sub-Chair: Oversees research initiatives and data analysis to support evidence-based overdose prevention strategies.
• Community Outreach Sub-Chair: Coordinates community outreach efforts with local organizations throughout the Fresno and Clovis area.
• External Education Sub-Chair: Leads external educational programming through partnerships with Fresno State and affiliated community organizations.

Find the CHSU Overdose Prevention Committee on Instagram

Follow the CHSU Overdose Prevention Committee on Instagram @chsu_opc!

CHSU Overdose Prevention Committee Statistics (Class of 2028)

During the 2025-2026 academic year, the CHSU OPC made an impact on our campus, in our community, and in the field of medicine with the following achievements:

Research

Research is an important component of the CHSU OPC’s mission. OPC research focuses on evaluating overdose prevention efforts, identifying gaps in education and access to naloxone, and sharing effective approaches with the broader medical and public health communities.

Current Research Projects

Student-Led Overdose Prevention and Naloxone Education

This project evaluated CHSU OPC’s student-designed overdose prevention education. OPC’s naloxone training was integrated into the school’s first-year curriculum alongside the faculty-led Basic Life Support and Stop the Bleed training. This study demonstrated increased student knowledge of opioid overdose and naloxone administration, as well as greater confidence in recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose following the training.

Fresno State Greek Life Opioid Overdose Training

This project is evaluating CHSU OPC’s community-based overdose prevention initiative within Fresno State’s Greek Life community. OPC members deliver structured educational sessions on opioid overdose recognition and response, in addition to hands-on intranasal naloxone administration training. This initiative aims to increase knowledge and confidence in responding to an opioid overdose while reducing stigma surrounding harm reduction and naloxone use. Nearly 100 fraternity and sorority members across three chapters have participated in the training to date.

Overdose Preparedness and Harm Reduction on a College Campus

This project is assessing overdose preparedness and engagement with harm reduction resources among students, faculty, staff, and the public at Fresno State. Through campus-wide surveys, the study examines prior training in naloxone administration and fentanyl test strip use, personal experiences with opioid overdose and naloxone administration, and previous exposure to harm reduction resources.

Research Presentations

CHSU OPC research has been presented at state, regional, and national conferences, including:

• Western Regional Medical Conference (WRMC) – 2024, 2026
• International Medical Education Conference (IME) – 2026
• American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Annual Conference – 2024, 2026
• American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) Annual Convention – 2026
• Learn Serve Lead: Association of American Medical Colleges – 2026

Research Recognition

CHSU Research Day 2026 — OMS-II Best Poster Award

Resources

You can download these CHSU OPC Response Guides in PDF format: Responding to Opioid Overdose, Signs and Symptoms of an Overdose, and CHSU OPC Opioid Overdose Full Handout.

National Overdose Prevention and Education Resources

CDC Overdose Prevention Resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Naloxone Distribution Project (Get free Narcan for your school or organization)
American Heart Association Opioid-Associated Emergency for Healthcare Providers Algorithm

Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC) News & Events

Overdose Prevention Committee Chair, Sub-chairs, and Advisory Board

Oluwabomi Adekoya
Class of 2029
OPC Chair

Amitoj Singh
Class of 2029
Research Sub-chair

Denna Hadipour
Class of 2029
Internal Education Sub-Chair

Natalie Boone
Class of 2029
External Education Sub-Chair

Theodore Do
Class of 2029
Academic Outreach Sub-Chair

Esmeralda Menjivar
Class of 2029
Community Outreach Sub-Chair

Brooke Guenther
Class of 2028
Chair and Chairman of Advisory Board

Phil De Vera
Class of 2028
Advisory Board Member

Abigail Grigoryan
Class of 2028
Advisory Board Member

Aarti Dixit
Class of 2028
Advisory Board Member

Noa Gorgas
Class of 2028
Advisory Board Member

Aicha Naouai
Class of 2027
Chair and Advisory Board Member

Mariya Leshchuk
Class of 2027
Advisory Board Member

Negin Fadaee
Class of 2027
Advisory Board Member

Contact OPC

Interested in partnering with CHSU OPC, requesting training, or getting involved with the committee? Please reach out to the OPC Chair via email at soma-opc@chsu.edu.