By: Owen Schwartz
Massachusetts College of Art
and Design
2024-2025
Intro + Context: Narcan, also known as naloxone, is a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. Fentanyl test strips can be used to test drugs for fentanyl, and help those using substances to avoid overdose.
The goal of this project was to get these important tools into the hands of students and the general campus community. Having access to these materials empowers people to practice harm reduction when/if they and others around them use substances.
Process: This culminated in a harm reduction info and resource table at an end-of-semester event. Students were able to take bags with informational materials, one dose of Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and 10mg micro-scoops for the test strips. There were also extra fentanyl test strips and informational pamphlets available once bags ran out.
Outcomes: 80 harm reduction bags were made and all of them were given out, along with many fentanyl strips and informational materials. A qr code for a survey was also provided at the table for people to give feedback. Survey results showed an overwhelming consensus that harm reduction programming is both desired and appreciated by the campus community. 96.2% of students noted that they felt safer carrying Narcan with them, and 100% of students responded that they want to see harm reduction programming as a part of freshman orientation.
Next Steps: The Department for Community Health and Well-Being will continue to provide free narcan and fentanyl test strips to students. More harm reduction initiatives are in development on campus.
Learning: This whole project was full of different learning experiences. I learned the importance of open lines of communication, time-management, reaching out to community members, and being flexible. Thank you to Campus Compact for making this initiative possible.