Today, one of the scariest things new college students face is the looming fear of overdosing and lacing issues on campus, especially with the rise of fentanyl within the past few years.
In many colleges, fentanyl, a synthetic opioid used for pain relief, can now be found within pills such as Adderall or Xanax, which are being given to college students as faulty ADHD or anxiety medications. For example, at Ohio State University, two students died in one week due to fake Adderall pills, and another was hospitalized. Because fentanyl is 50 times stronger than both heroin and morphine, even one ingestion of the drug can cause a fatal overdose, and this drug is heavily catered to college students. Fentanyl is also being found in non-opioid drugs such as cocaine and meth, and even vape cartridges. This problem is especially pertinent, as many of these fentanyl-laced drugs are targeted as a way to boost academic ability or social activity, tricking students into unknowingly risking their lives.
There have also been instances of other loosely regulated substances inciting emergencies. Earlier this week, two University of Mississippi students were killed relating to a local tobacco shop selling kratom, an herbal extract used to mimic opioids.
Even though this issue is still growing exponentially, many colleges have begun to recognize that overdosing and lacing is now a major problem, causing them to implement new restrictions and tools to prevent more loss. Now, many universities are dispersing naloxone, otherwise known as Narcan, the opioid reversal nasal spray, in order to prevent overdosing from fentanyl. They have also been providing fentanyl test strips and ensuring that students are aware of the dangers of pill use.
While there is much being done about the prevention of opioid and substance abuse, the problem still lurks in the minds of college students, therefore making it important to recognize the dangers of receiving drugs from others on campus. If someone has overdosed , they may be showing symptoms of breathing problems, confusion, vomiting, small pupils, and a slow pulse. If you ever find yourself in a situation where someone is overdosing, call 911, and attempt to administer Narcan if it is available. Because this is still such a major issue, it is heavily vital to ensure that students are aware of both the causes and solutions to laced drugs and overdosing. On campus, students have access to the Student Wellness Center and you can contact them at studentwellness@fandm.edu Additionally, free Narcan kits are available at the Lancaster Public Library as they have partnered Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.
Lizzy Assante di Cupillo is a contributing writer. Her email is eassante@fandm.edu.