Overdose prevention & harm reduction
Substance use is a reality in our province. And unfortunately British Columbia is in the midst of a .
The 番茄社区 is not immune to this issue. Tragically, in January 2024, Sidney McIntyre-Starko—a first-year student living in residence—was exposed to toxic drugs and died in hospital (Read President’s statement).
The 番茄社区 takes our role in educating our community about the toxic drug supply very seriously. We have work to do. It’s vital that everyone has the best information and resources available so that they can make safe choices for themselves and each other. We are committed to taking steps to make campus safer for everyone.
Safer use
Naloxone availability & training
If you use drugs, please don’t use alone.
We encourage you to seek training on the use of naloxone—it’s an effective treatment for drug overdose and can save lives. Make sure that naloxone is readily available and highly visible when using drugs.
For those living on campus, as of Aug. 31, opioid emergency kits, including nasal naloxone, are available in common areas and lounges in UVic residence buildings.
Students can access training (including free kits) through , in partnership with Student Wellness. Or book a private appointment with a UVic nurse for training and a free naloxone kit.
Everyone can learn about harm reduction and naloxone use for free at , and the .
You can also pick up a free kit at the Harm Reduction Centre and .
Drug testing
If you’re going to use drugs, please test them to make sure they’re as safe as possible. Drug checking services can determine a sample’s main active ingredients, fillers or cutting agents, any unexpected drugs, and the presence of fentanyl.
Learn how and where to test your drugs at . Fentanyl testing strips are also available at the Harm Reduction Centre.
| OUR COMMITMENTS |
|---|
| We will install opioid overdose emergency kits, which include nasal naloxone, in all residence common areas by mid-August 2024. These emergency kits will be easily accessible in visible public areas, and on every floor or lounge depending on building layouts. |
| We will provide training for all student residence-life staff on the use of overdose emergency kits. |
First aid & emergency response
If you or someone near you begins showing any signs of overdose or over-intoxication, please call 9-1-1.
Always call 9-1-1 first. If you’re on campus, you can then contact Campus Security at 250-721-7599.
| OUR COMMITMENTS |
|---|
| We will implement a new Campus Security standard-operating procedure for contacting 9-1-1. |
|
Campus Security Officers are trained in first aid. We will supplement this training with appropriate in-house programming to ensure best practices in responding to drug overdoses on campus. |
|
We will review our protocols for emergency contact notifications. |
|
We will work with emergency services providers and our municipal partners to develop a plan to assist emergency services in locating individuals in distress. This may include the use of a unique address for each building. |
Education & awareness
The university follows the province and our local health authority’s guidance around harm reduction. This includes educating our students, staff and faculty about available resources, emergency protocols, and the inherent risks involved with substance use.
Training and supports are widely available throughout campus.
Students living in residence learn where to find opioid emergency kits in residence buildings on move-in day and have access to harm reduction and safety supports education in our Community Living Handbook. In addition, our pre-arrival orientation for new students now includes information on substance use and harm reduction as well as caring for yourself and your community. Campus tours for new UVic students include harm reduction information and our New Student Essentials video series includes reference to harm reduction supports.
| OUR COMMITMENTS |
|---|
|
We will provide education and awareness materials on the emergency-response boxes for all 3,000 students arriving in residence this September. |
|
We will ensure all communications with incoming residence students (online, pre-arrival, and in-person orientation) and the Community Living Handbook are updated to include a new section on harm reduction and safety supports. |
Accountability & governance
In the face of BC’s toxic drug crisis, UVic has much work to do to keep our community safe. This effort must be coordinated and integrated across campus. It will include input from students, persons who use substances, researchers and faculty, senior leaders and staff, government and health authorities, community members, and more.
Our work will be informed by the BC Government’s . In September, this committee produced a list of guidelines for all post-secondary institutions in BC that complement work already underway at UVic.
| OUR COMMITMENTS |
|---|
|
At the president’s direction, we will conduct an external independent review to ensure that Sidney McIntyre-Starko’s tragic death catalyzes real change that will make campuses safer for students, staff and faculty, here at the 番茄社区 and across our province. Independent Reviewer appointed to assess events surrounding tragic overdose death |
| We will appoint a Special Advisor to convene a panel of experts to provide evidence-based recommendations that will improve institutional systems, processes, communications, training and education with respect to overdose prevention and response. The full report from the Special Advisor will also include the report and recommendations of the independent reviewer and will be provided to the president in writing. |
Resources & support
- Student Wellness provides some helpful considerations to help inform your choices around substance use
- UVic Harm Reduction Centre aims to help UVic students to make more informed and safer choices around sex and substance use
- Naloxone training is offered through the and
- is available to help you check for toxic elements in your substances
- provides links to safe injection resources, overdose support groups, naloxone training, toxic drug alerts and more
- has activities to help you think about your own substance use
- is a tool to help you anticipate your blood alcohol content over the time you expect to drink
- helps users get a full picture of their alcohol consumption
- is a mental health and addictions resource hub from the government of BC
Research impact
Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
The Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) is a network of individuals and groups dedicated to the study of substance use and addiction. They support community-wide efforts to promote health and reduce harm.
Co/Lab
The (Co/Lab) is a collaborative network for research and knowledge exchange that aims to promote health and health equity for people who use drugs and alcohol.
Substance Drug Checking
is a team of chemists, social workers, computer scientists, pharmacists, and people who use drugs, partnering to provide and evaluate drug checking services in Victoria, British Columbia.
Related news
Provincial guidelines for overdose prevention
Statement from President Hall regarding the release of the province's new post-secondary overdose prevention and response guidelines
Brain injury after overdose
UVic researcher Mauricio A. Garcia-Barrera is leading an effort to shine the light on an epidemic卢 underlying the toxic drug crisis卢鈥攂rain injury after overdose.
Learning from Sidney McIntyre-Starko鈥檚 death
On January 23, 2024, a first-year student living in residence, Sidney McIntyre-Starko was exposed to BC鈥檚 toxic drug supply. She died in hospital a few days later, devastating our community and...
Lifelong interest steers career
Vanier scholar, Sybil Goulet-Stock, is a psychology doctoral researcher examining alcohol use in Canada and the impact of mandatory health warning labels on products.
Steps to Repair Canada's Alcohol Policy
News of alcohol鈥檚 harms and costs has dominated headlines post-COVID. The Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE) Project, led by UVic鈥檚 Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR),...