Officials at Seton Hall University in New Jersey say they’re planning to equip public safety officers with Narcan to respond to opioid overdoses.
“We haven’t really seen [opioids on our campus], but we know it’s becoming an increasing problem among the age group that would be our students. And other institutions have seen it,” Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Security Patrick Linfante says. “We know that we’re not immune to it.”
Police around the country have begun carrying the revival drug naxalone, known as Narcan, as opioids have become more common. The opioid epidemic has led to an increasing amount of overdoses in public places like hospitals, parks and libraries.
Linfante says he began considering the move in January and Seton Hall’s medical director could give final approval within the next 30 days, reports The Setonian.
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The program would train and arm the university’s mobile officer units as well as officers from campus security partner Securitas. One person would be in charge of maintaining the supply of the drug.
New Jersey law gives immunity to people who call police to report drug overdoses.
Students on campus expressed support for the program.
