IU Fort Wayne is strengthening its commitment to campus and community safety through participation in the Citizen Opioid Responders (COR) program and expanded access to naloxone (Narcan) on the Fort Wayne campus.
Two naloxone boxes are now available in highly visible and accessible locations: Student Central Neff Hall 110 and the School of Nursing Lounge in Liberal Arts, Level 3. Naloxone is a safe, easy-to-use medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save lives in emergency situations.
“Having naloxone readily available on campus is about being prepared and looking out for one another,” said Deborah Garrison, IU Fort Wayne Inaugural Vice Chancellor and Dean. “These boxes ensure that students, faculty, staff, and visitors have access to a life-saving resource when minutes matter most.”
In addition to increasing access to naloxone on campus, IU is encouraging students, faculty, staff, and community members to take part in the Citizen Opioid Responders program. Through COR, participants can complete a free 30-minute online naloxone (Narcan) trainingthat teaches how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and respond quickly and effectively.
Participants in the COR training will learn how to:
- Recognize the signs of an opioid overdose
- Administer naloxone/Narcan to reverse an overdose
- Take immediate action that could save a life in their community
“Joining the Citizen Opioid Responders program is one small step that can make a huge difference,” Cris Henderson, a Research Associate for Prevention Insights at the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington and Project Manager for the Citizen Opioid Responder Program. “By learning how to respond to an overdose, our campus community becomes part of the solution.”
By expanding naloxone access and promoting overdose response education, IU Fort Wayne is reinforcing its role as a proactive partner in addressing the opioid crisis and supporting the health and safety of the campus and surrounding community.
