In 2016, the Province of British Columbia declared a public health emergency due to a significant increase in drug-related overdoses and deaths, primarily driven by a toxic and unregulated supply of illicit drugs. Over the past eight years, more than 15,000 lives have been lost in B.C. to toxic drugs, with fentanyl—a potent synthetic opioid—found in many of these cases.
Recognizing the critical need for action, the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills convened a Post- Secondary Overdose Prevention and Response Steering Committee in May 2024.
This committee identified three key objectives for the program including awareness, response and access to naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
The program’s leadership framework emphasizes strategic oversight, operational excellence, and collaboration across the ASM community. Guidance for the program is provided by the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Committee.
This committee will be primarily responsible for the development and implementation of the program and for the regular review of any associated metrics and for the annual review of the program.
The first and most critical step in any suspected overdose situation is to call 9-1-1. This ensures that emergency attendants are on the way without delay. Following this, Park Place Security should be contacted (tel# 604-682-1954), as they often can be on scene faster than emergency attendants and can provide critical interventions and manage the situation until emergency attendants arrive.
Naloxone is a fast-acting medication used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It will not cause harm to a person who is not experiencing an overdose.
Naloxone is available in the First Aid Kit kept in the cabinet at the Front Reception desk. This location ensures that life-saving resources are readily available in the event of an overdose.
All BC residents can obtain naloxone kits, at no cost, from participating local pharmacies, on and off campus.
ASM’s OH&S and the Facilities & Administrative Manager are responsible for the ensuring there are at least two naloxone kits available, and that clear and consistent signage is prominently displayed near or above the First Aid Kit location to help the campus community quickly locate the naloxone kits.
Park Place Security is equipped with naloxone and are prepared to act swiftly and effectively in an emergency.
Outreach and awareness initiatives prioritize educating the campus community about the risks of the toxic drug crisis and how to effectively respond to overdoses. A robust communications plan is critical towards disseminating information about overdose risks and naloxone use. The program also supports Student Health & Wellbeing and provides information on overdose prevention services.
The ASM Overdose Prevention and Response Program communication plan features a comprehensive and enhanced communication strategy focused on connecting the ASM community with tools and resources to ensure adherence to the provincial requirements, highlighting ASM’s commitment to raising awareness and responding to overdoses. ASM Communications department, OH&S Committee, Human Resources and Senior Vice President Academic are responsible for collaborating in the development and implementation of the communication strategy across various channels ensuring ASM community (students, staff, and faculty), within a substance use health and harm reduction framework.
The key areas of focus will include:
The communications will also emphasize the legal protections under the Good Samaritan Act and the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/opioids/about-good-samaritan-drug-overdose-act.html ,assuring the community that they can assist in an overdose without fear of repercussions.
The communications strategy will be a phased approach. Phase 1 will focus on three messaging themes including:
Phase 2 will focus on continued enhanced messaging of awareness, resources, education, and training.
Tactics to communicate include:
Training in overdose response is required for those who are expected to respond to emergency incidents as part of their work responsibilities. Education will be provided to those who need to recognize the signs of an overdose and take appropriate steps to contact emergency attendants and if confident, to administer naloxone.
Campus Security ASM First Aid Attendants
Senior Management & Leadership Front Desk Staff Student Advisors Program Directors Faculty & staff
Formal training for ASM First Aid Attendants is coordinated through ASM’s Human Resources department. This training, which is mandatory for all ASM First Aid providers, will be delivered in various formats such as in-person sessions or a blended model of online and in-person instruction. It will include hands-on practice in administering naloxone, equipping attendants to effectively respond to overdose situations.
For faculty and front desk staff, training is more informal and will be provided through general HR and program orientation sessions and by directing individuals to review the online resources available on page 8.
The primary focus of this education is to help them recognize the signs of an overdose and take the appropriate steps to contact emergency attendants. Faculty and front desk staff, while they are not required to administer naloxone, may do so if they feel confident and comfortable, as there are no adverse effects from administering naloxone in non-overdose situations.
The training program will include raising awareness about the protections provided under the Good Samaritan Act and the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act. These laws protect individuals from legal repercussions when they assist in an overdose emergency, encouraging everyone to act without hesitation.
At ASM, the OH&S conducts monthly formal inspections of naloxone kits in the First Aid Kit to ensure that the kits have not been accessed.
First Aid Kits will be replenished when deficiencies are identified or prior to naloxone expiry dates by the Facilities & Administration Manager.
Any incidents involving the use, tampering, or depletion of kits must be reported to the Senior Vice President Academic, and any missing or used kits will be replenished without delay. Decals will be added to each naloxone kit indicating where the public can call in the event a box is found empty.
The Senior Management Team and Director Quality & Risk will advocate and budget for purchase of naloxone kits and replacement of kits recognizing that the kits have an approximate 18 month shelf life.
The cost associated with training and related communications materials will also be budgeted for.
An annual review will be scheduled by OH&S to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and identify opportunities for efficiency.
Feedback may be sought from students, staff, and faculty to inform ongoing adjustments to the program. This input is important for refining the program to better meet the needs of the campus community.
As part of the program’s ongoing management, OH&S in collaboration with SVPA and Director Quality & Risk, is also responsible for maintaining and updating program documentation, including the Overdose Prevention and Response Program document, procedures, and records related to naloxone kit placements and incidents.
The findings from these evaluations are to be reported to the ASM leadership.. These reports provide insights into the program’s successes and challenges, guiding future efforts to enhance overdose prevention and response at ASM.
This information is based on current recommendations and may change. For the latest guidance, please see the health information from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control.
Additional Resources:
If you suspect an overdose, call 911 right away.
Naloxone is a fast-acting medication used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It will not cause harm to a person who is not experiencing an overdose. Use it for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.
The signs of an overdose
Responding to an overdose? Don’t wait:
You will not get in trouble with Acsenda School of Management, Park Place Security or the Police for calling 911. You are protected by the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act- even if you have a small amount of substance on you.
