Each September, organizations across the nation celebrate National Recovery Month to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible. In celebration, Loyola Marymount University is launching a naloxone training program aimed at equipping students, faculty, and staff at LMU with life-saving knowledge and tools, both of which help to foster a compassionate, informed, and resilient campus culture.
National Recovery Month is a time to recognize the strength of individuals in recovery and the importance of accessible resources. The naloxone training program was formed as part of a response from students in spring 2024 when students were asked by Student Health Services (SHS) about their attitudes toward naloxone and making it available on campus via a survey. Based on the shared interest from students in the survey, SHS and Recovery at LMU were able to partner together to develop an asynchronous training video and widen distribution locations at LMU.
Eighty-seven percent of students surveyed wanted to learn more about naloxone and increase the availability of this life-saving medication so they could help others. Through the survey, students voiced the need and desire for how they want to help their peers if they needed this life-saving medication. Some of the many written responses to the survey included: “Yes, because I want to make sure, I am keeping my friends safe,” and “Yes, because I feel like it’s important to have in any situation when you’re out because you never know and it can really save someone’s life.”
“This initiative is a direct reflection of creating mission-aligned students here at LMU,” said Dr. Zarin Tejani, medical director at LMU, overseeing SHS and Student Psychological Services. “Responding correctly to someone in a critical health situation requires that students embody learning, justice, and care for the whole person. This training module was created as a response to the feedback on the survey and allows the entire LMU community to asynchronously learn how to use, obtain naloxone, and therefore be prepared to save someone’s life. And it’s critical that SHS works directly with campus partners to best understand the needs of our students, and this survey is an example of how SHS’ impact can go beyond our clinic walls.”
Overdose prevention aligns with LMU’s commitment to the health and safety of our community and campus-wide involvement in comprehensive and ongoing wellness education. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is an overdose reversal drug that dislodges the molecules on brain receptors that prevent breathing. “Despite persistent myths that Naloxone enables drug misuse, the only thing naloxone enables is breathing” said Bradley Smith, LPCC and LAADC, director of LMU’s Center for Collegiate Recovery.
It is safe and legal to administer this life-saving medication in California without being held liable under California law, as outlined in AB-635. Naloxone is available over the counter and only works to reverse an overdose when someone has opioids in their system. “LMU’s asynchronous training helps students understand that they can be instruments of intervention and save a life in the event of an opioid overdose,” said Tejani. “It is often a peer who is the key first responder during an overdose,” said Smith. Both Tejani and Smith agree: “Overdose reversal is extraordinarily time-sensitive, so reducing stigma and empowering people to respond and to call for help is essential to preparing our community and students in particular.”
Training is simple and required to receive naloxone via this program. Get started by watching this seven-minute video, and completing the brief form at the bottom of this webpage. Naloxone will not harm someone if you give it to them and they are not overdosing on an opioid. Anyone in the LMU community is encouraged to view this asynchronous online training video and then submit a form to redeem at these four locations:
LMU Recovery Center
Malone Student Center 113
- Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dean of Students Office
Malone Student Center 301
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Burns Recreation Center, Membership Desk
- Monday – Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Please refer to the six point checklist in the event you find someone unresponsive:
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose.
- Call 9-1-1 and yell for help. Do not leave the individual if possible. If on campus, also call LMU Public Safety 310.338.2893, also listed on the back of a OneCard. (Public Safety’s phone number ca (they will escort paramedics to your location).
- Check for responsiveness.
- Check for pulse/breathing.
- Administer naloxone (Narcan) through the nostrils.
- Start CPR and rescue breathing.
