Campus resources to help you prepare for St. Patrick's Day 2022
Wardenburg medical services provides free life saving drug, Narcan, for students
On Thursday, March 10, the University of Colorado Boulder released a statement with five things students should keep in mind when celebrating next week for St. Patrick’s day.
- Pay attention to City Ordinances
- Register your party for FREE
- Make safe choices with drugs and alcohol
- Call 911 in an emergency
- Look out for each other
When choosing to engage with drugs and alcohol, it is important to keep in mind the risks that come with these behaviors. CU emphasized in their statement “any drug not purchased directly from a pharmacy could contain fentanyl, an opiate-based drug that is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin. Consuming fentanyl poses a significant risk for accidental overdose.”
The drug Narcan can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and is available for FREE to all students at Wardenburg Health Center. Narcan will not harm someone who is not overdosing. When in doubt, use it.
Is it important to note that Colorado is currently facing a drastic increase in Fentanyl overdoses. It is currently the leading cause of death among 18 to 45-year-olds in the United States.
Fentanyl is a synthetic that is often cut into drugs because it is a cheap filler. It can be found in Cocaine, Xanax, Oxycodone, Amphetamine, and many other capsules and pills. Often, people are unaware their products contain Fentanyl, which leads to accidental consumption and worse case scenario death from overdose.
It is crucial to know what you are getting into before engaging with these types of drugs. Some tell-tale signs of an overdose include but are not limited to small pupils, shallow or no breathing, blue or grayish lips and fingernails, unresponsiveness, and heavy wheezing or snoring.
The best way to protect yourself and others is to stay away from experimenting with these drugs all together. It is important to note there are test strips that can be used to test for Fentanyl, but a negative result does not mean there is 100% no presence of the drug. There are various substance abuse and addiction resources out there to support you.
Have fun, be safe, and make sure to look out for your friends and fellow students as the weather warms up and outdoor gatherings commence.
