The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh partnered with Wisconsin Voices for Recovery to install overdose kits. Dylan Eckhart has more.
UWO has become one of the first college campuses in Wisconsin to install naloxone in its residence halls. Naloxone is a medication that helps reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. According to Natalie Johnson of UWO Today, “through a partnership with UW-Madison’s Wisconsin Voices for Recovery and the Winnebago County Health Department, the UW Oshkosh effort involves installing naloxone rescue boxes in the lobbies of all 10 residence halls on the Oshkosh campus.” UWO Police Chief Kurt Leibold said that the kits are being equipped as a preventive measure and that UWO police officers and student CSOs have been trained to administer naloxone. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 1,226 opioid overdose deaths in 2020 across the state, a 34% increase from 2019. Winnebago County had 37 opioid overdose deaths in 2020, an 85% increase from 2019. These overdose kits will be placed near AEDs (automated external defibrillators) and Stop the Bleed kits, consisting of a naloxone nasal spray. Naloxone is an FDA-approved medication that assists in reversing an opioid overdose from heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, and morphine. Naloxone does not cause harm if administered as a precaution to someone who turns out not to be overdosing.
For WRST News I’m Dylan Eckhart
