El Camino College is offering a workshop where students and staff can learn about saving lives with medication and the dangers of overdosing. The workshop, hosted by Student Health Services, will be held on Monday, June 3, at the Distance Education Center from 11 a.m. to noon.
The workshop will focus on Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. It will be led by Nurse Practitioner Julie Poepoe and Registered Nurse Courtney Crockett, who have been conducting workshops throughout the semester.
Narcan, also known as naloxone, can save someone’s life during an opioid overdose. Opioids like morphine, fentanyl, and tramadol are used for pain relief but can be dangerous if misused, leading to overdose and even death.
Crockett mentioned the alarming increase in overdose deaths, stating that in 2022, California saw 7,385 opioid-related overdose deaths, a 227% increase from 2019. Fentanyl seizures also rose by 594% compared to 2021.
Through the Naloxone Distribution Project, Student Health Services provides naloxone kits to workshop attendees. Each kit contains two doses of naloxone, which can be used in case of an overdose emergency.
The health center also offers fentanyl testing strips for at-home use, which can help reduce harm associated with drug use.
Crockett emphasized the importance of having naloxone available, even though they haven’t had any opioid overdose cases at the health center. She hopes that educating people about Narcan will help prevent overdoses in the future.
This workshop is the fourth of its kind this semester, with more planned for July. Interested individuals can attend the June 3 workshop by filling out an attendance form.
Future Narcan Training workshops will be held in Room 115 of the Industry Technology Education Center on the following dates:
- July 3, 9 to 10 a.m.
- July 17, 10 to 11 a.m.
- July 31, 11 a.m. to noon