Many college students inevitably find their way into the party scene, where they test the waters and experiment with different things. Sometimes what is experimented with, never harms the individual, but sometimes it takes a turn for the worse. This is where Narcan comes in.

Narcan is a safe, fast-acting, over the counter nasal spray that is meant to reverse opioid overdoses. It’s a life-saving product that finds its home in local communities and college campuses, just like Quincy University. Opioid overdoses do not discriminate in who is the next victim, and it doesn’t always mean an addict is present. Many people believe that Narcan is only meant for those struggling with an addiction, but that is not true. Narcan is meant to save lives of friends, families, strangers, and even yourself.

“Overdoses could happen to anybody. It doesn’t matter the color of your skin, how much money you have in the bank, this could happen to anybody,” Chattie Liehr-Miranda, RN, MS, Opioid Health Education Specialist, said.

Many people reject the very real idea of addiction, as they feel it can never happen to them. Many people go their whole lives without encountering substance issues, but many people also struggle with substances every single day. Addiction is genetic, and many people have no choice but to give into their genetic predispositions. It’s just a matter of how an individual is willing to allow people into their lives to help, even when they are at their most vulnerable. Vulnerability is something many people struggle with, and often times it’s when that feeling is present that they need it the most.

“I don’t run into many people today that have not, in some way, been affected by the opioid epidemic. So I would say that addiction could or has touched someone’s life and Narcan has saved someone’s life,” Joshua Stevens, peer support specialist, said.

Narcan has recently found a home on college campuses, specifically QU, where they are found in the same location as AED’s across campus to ease the struggle of where to find it when it’s needed. Many young individuals, such as college students, still have developing brains and are experiencing things for the first time. Being educated on Narcan, what it is and how to use it, can help ease situations that many individuals may experience for the very first time. Whether the experience is firsthand, or at a distance, an experience with addiction isn’t far from a college campus. Which only makes the need for education on opioids more relevant, especially in young people.

“I think it’s great that Narcan is easily accessible, the community should know about this information since it helps avoid tragedies,” JD Vogel, QU student, said.

Narcan is meant to save lives in times of need. Don’t shy away from the inevitability of a crisis happening near you, and be open to saving lives within your community. Be there for your friends, your family, and even those you don’t know. Be there for those who are struggling with addiction, and help them when they need it the most.