OSHKOSH (NBC26) — The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will be one of the first college campuses in Wisconsin to equip residence halls with naloxone, a medication that helps reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
This comes through a partnership with UW-Madison's Wisconsin Voices for Recovery and the Winnebago County health department. The kits themselves will be installed in 10 residence halls on the Oshkosh campus.
According to authorities UW Oshkosh has had very few overdose incidences on its campuses; however, according to UW Oshkosh Police Chief Kurt Leibol, it's a preventive step.
“We are putting the naloxone kits in place to help prevent overdose deaths. Just like with AEDs, we hope we never have to use them. We are working to be very proactive to have the tools we need to deal with these situations if they happen.”
UWO police officers and student CSOs (community service officers) have been trained to administer naloxone. In the future, community advisers and residence hall leaders also may be trained, according to Leibol.
