By Greg Fry

Take-home naloxone kits now available at TRU Wellness Centre

Nov 15, 2017 | 12:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Wellness Centre at TRU has taken a big step towards addressing the opioid crisis.

It has been approved by the BC Centre for Disease Control to distribute take-home naloxone kits in what it says is “an effort to keep students and staff safe.”

The approval process started this summer after consultations with the TRU Nursing faculty, the Interior Chemical Dependency Office, Interior Health Harm Reduction and others.

“TRU’s role in this work is to help members of the campus community reduce barriers and increase access to health services, education, and support,” said TRU Wellness Co-ordinator Chelsea Corsi.

In April of 2016, BC’s Provincial Health Officer declared a public health emergency due to the significant increase in deaths due to overdoses. 930 people died in 2016 and things have gotten worse with 1,103 people dying of illicit drug overdoses the first nine months of 2017.

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Students and employees can access the kits at the Wellness Centre in Old Main 1479. Kits will be available from front-line faculty and staff from counselling, student affairs, disability services, early alert and services for Aboriginal students.

Today’s announcement coincides with National Addictions Awareness Week which runs from Nov. 14 to 17.