Harm Reduction Services and Supplies
Purpose
It can be difficult for many students to find a healthy balance navigating safe decision-making in college because frequent substance use is often normalized in social and cultural spaces. These norms can feel like pressure or lead to isolation if someone does or doesn't use substances like their peers.
We believe that all students (and individuals!) deserve access to free, non-judgmental, and confidential programs that meet folks where they are with substance use without any pressure, just support.
For this reason, we offer several services to help students find balance and access supplies that help them make informed choices around substances including:
- Coaching sessions about harm reduction strategies and safe use
- Access to substance contamination testing supplies (i.e. fentanyl test strips)
- Training on the signs of an overdose and how to reverse it with Naloxone
What is Harm Reduction Coaching?
A harm reduction coach provides non-judgmental support that supports students to make practical decisions to minimize harm related to substance use such as death, disease, and injury. Each sessions explores ways to reduce risks, strategies for staying safe, and a space to meet you where you are at without any pressure, just support.
Harm Reduction Strategies
Clarify the "why" behind use
Consider writing a safety plan before use that outlines:
- Why you're using
- Your limits and how you plan to maintain boundaries
- Ways this substance can affect you during and after use
- A care plan for your body during and after
- Signs of an overdose for this substance
- A plan if something goes wrong
Clarify the "why" behind use
Consider writing a safety plan before use that outlines:
- Why you're using
- Your limits and how you plan to maintain boundaries
- Ways this substance can affect you during and after use
- A care plan for your body during and after
- Signs of an overdose for this substance
- A plan if something goes wrong
Never use alone
Try to have a sober friend with you who knows your "why," can keep you safe, and help you maintain your boundaries.
Together, you can practice identifying and maintaining your boundaries to avoid pressure to use beyond your limits.
Never use alone
Try to have a sober friend with you who knows your "why," can keep you safe, and help you maintain your boundaries.
Together, you can practice identifying and maintaining your boundaries to avoid pressure to use beyond your limits.
Check for contamination
It's important to check substances for potential fentanyl contamination. Even in trace amounts, fentanyl is highly potent and can be fatal.
Each week, students can drop-in to our office to receive a free testing strip pack to check for contamination.
Check for contamination
It's important to check substances for potential fentanyl contamination. Even in trace amounts, fentanyl is highly potent and can be fatal.
Each week, students can drop-in to our office to receive a free testing strip pack to check for contamination.
Avoid mixing substances or unknown sources
Overdose risk increases significantly when substances like alcohol, opioids, or benzos are mixed.
The effects of each drug is amplified and can induce fatigue, slower breathing, reduced heart rate, and complications that can be fatal.
Avoid substances from unknown sources as they may be mixed with multiple ingredients or contaminated with fentanyl, increasing the risk of a fatal overdose.
Avoid mixing substances or unknown sources
Overdose risk increases significantly when substances like alcohol, opioids, or benzos are mixed.
The effects of each drug is amplified and can induce fatigue, slower breathing, reduced heart rate, and complications that can be fatal.
Avoid substances from unknown sources as they may be mixed with multiple ingredients or contaminated with fentanyl, increasing the risk of a fatal overdose.
Start low, go slow
If using a new substance, give yourself the ability to recognize how it affects you by starting with a lower dose.
Take time and slowly assess the sensations and understand how even a small amount impacts the body
Start low, go slow
If using a new substance, give yourself the ability to recognize how it affects you by starting with a lower dose.
Take time and slowly assess the sensations and understand how even a small amount impacts the body
Carry naloxone
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.
Get trained on how to respond in an emergency and receive a free naloxone kit at one of our 15-minute trainings.
Carry naloxone
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.
Get trained on how to respond in an emergency and receive a free naloxone kit at one of our 15-minute trainings.
Connect with peer support
Addiction thrives in isolation so we offer several ways to find support and connect with peers also navigating safe use including:
- One-on-one harm reduction coaching
- Sober peer support in "Recovery at the U"
- Engaging workshops and overdose prevention events
- A student-led blog and podcast sharing voices of recovery
Connect with peer support
Addiction thrives in isolation so we offer several ways to find support and connect with peers also navigating safe use including:
- One-on-one harm reduction coaching
- Sober peer support in "Recovery at the U"
- Engagingworkshops and overdose prevention events
- A student-led blog and podcast sharing voices of recovery
Get Trained to Save a Life
Overdose deaths are preventable so we are here to teach you how to use Naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose.
Naloxone Basics
What: Naloxone is a medication that everyday people can provide and rapidly reverse an opioid overdose.
When: It should be given to any person who shows signs of an opioid overdose.
How: It can be given as a nasal spray or injectable.
Where: Students can get trained on and get Naloxone to carry in the event of an emergency at our drop-in trainings
Anyone Can Carry Naloxone
The Center for Campus Wellness is proud to offer one-on-one overdose prevention training, complete free Naloxone kits.
Between 9:00 am to 11:00 am on select dates, students can drop-in and receive a 15-minute training from a member of our health education team.
Spring '25: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays*
*Excludes federal holidays and University closure days
Did you know that you interact with several forms of harm reduction everyday? Some examples include seatbelts, sun screen, air bags, bike helmets, air bags and more!
Harm Reduction 101
Harm reduction is a public health approach focused on minimizing the consequences associated with a behavior without needing the activity to stop.
It is a well-researched, evidence-based approach shown to be effective in minimizing substance related harms such as death, disease, and injury.
Harm reduction is the only global drug policy response that has proven to save lives and money at the same time as increasing quality of life (Stone & Sander, 2016).
Rather than mandating abstinence, harm reduction meets people where they are at and offers compassionate practices to stay safe without shame.
Additional resources
What is a fentanyl test strip?
How does alcohol and substance use affect the body?
What are the signs of an overdose?