The Narcan trainings from the Healthy Lifestyle Center were a natural addition to the body of work offered to the community that grew out of conversations to help the Ball State University Center for Substance Use Research and Community Initiatives (SURCI) and their partnership with the Addictions Coalition of Delaware County (ACDC),  to further strengthen efforts supporting community residents, service providers, and other key stakeholders working together to address substance use issues in our community.

Nine out of ten people have heard about Naloxone (Narcan) but only one in ten felt able to administer it (Hohman et al., 2022).  In 2023, Delaware County had 670 legal opioid prescriptions per 1000 residents, these numbers are only reflective of legally obtained medication, and does not count for any individuals whom illegally obtained substances. Even with prescription use under the advice of medical professionals, there is still a chance for accidental overdose.

“Narcan is a safe, effective, free, lifesaving medication in the event of an overdose. I’m so glad Ball State is behind our students by providing this medication for free, along with prevention and treatment information. Opioid overdose is an enormous public health issue in our nation, and particularly in our region – and I love that Ball State is out in front of this problem, recognizing the need to protect and help our students, “ said Dr. Jean Marie Place, Associate Professor of Health Science, and Director of Community Research and Administration for SURCI.

The College of Health held two pop-up table trainings in the month of April targeting COH Majors to train them in the basic administration of Narcan, 120 students participated in these sessions, with eight Narcan Train the Trainer sessions who had 153 attendees. The Healthy Lifestyle Center has partnered with Emergent, the manufacturer of Narcan, and offered it for free through their location in the Interprofessional Community Clinic. To date through the training sessions, and clinic availability they have distributed 300 doses of Narcan to the community.

The Healthy Lifestyle Center isn’t the only place on campus where students, faculty and staff can get Narcan. The office of Health Promotion and Advocacy also has the lifesaving medication available.

Suzanne M. Swierc, Director of Health Promotion & Advocacy, said “The College of Health’s Narcan training initiative embodies a successful harm reduction strategy by combining education with community outreach. Empowering students, faculty, staff, and residents with the lifesaving skill of administering Narcan is commendable.  It’s also exciting to see this program as a train-the-trainer model to expand awareness and maximize its positive impact. While Health Promotion and Advocacy prioritizes student well-being through resources and education, we strongly endorse these efforts to empower the entire Muncie community.”

The Healthy Lifestyle Center plans to offer both Narcan Train the Trainer, and individual training sessions over the course of the next academic year, with a goal to train at least 90% of COH students in the use of Narcan. If you’re interested in being a host for a future Narcan training please contact the Healthy Lifestyle Center at 765-285-1293 or email hlc765@bsu.edu.