Grand Valley State University’s Student Senate introduced a bill in November that would implement Narcan training for all resident assistants (RAs) at the University. The bill will be presented to the Senate’s General Assembly, and if approved, administration of Narcan may soon be employed at all campus residences.
Naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, is a drug used to reverse an opioid overdose. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, Narcan can prevent overdoses from opioids such as heroin, fentanyl and morphine. Narcan can either be administered by a nasal spray or an injection, and typically goes into effect after two to three minutes. According to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, more than 103,000 lives were saved because of Narcan between 2017 and 2024. Similarly, Narcan use increased by 43% between 2020 and 2022.
Paris Lawson, Student Senate’s vice president, proposed the bill. According to Lawson, the legislation has already passed through both the Senate’s Cabinet and Judiciary Committee, where it received majority approval. Lawson said she was inspired to write the Narcan training bill because of a personal connection to the lifesaving skill. Lawson said she had a friend whose life was at high risk due to substance use, and she realized that RAs were not trained to help her friend if an emergency were to occur.
“This bill is crucial because GVSU prioritizes safety and prevention as its top values,” Lawson said. “By equipping RAs with Narcan and the knowledge to use it, we can save lives, perhaps even just one, and that alone would be worth it.”
Before the bill was created, Student Senate did extensive research on the topic, including examining what other universities have done to reduce opioid overdoses. Universities across the United States have implemented measures to reduce opioid overdoses by making Narcan available on their campuses. CPR, AED and Narcan training have become more accessible on college campuses, and some universities, such as Wayne State University, have even installed vending machines that dispense Narcan.
College students face an increased risk of opioid overdose because of their exposure to drug use. The National Library of Medicine reported that 12% of college students misuse prescription opioids without medical necessity. Even those who are prescribed opioids for medical treatment can be at risk of accidental overdose, due to toxic drug interactions.
By equipping RAs with Narcan training, Student Senate hopes to create a safer environment on campus, and ensure that help is just a moment away if needed.
“I don’t see how this (Narcan training) can be anything but a positive,” said GVSU student Marshall Murdick. “You never know (when) someone might need this. It won’t affect my day to day as a student, but it might save another person’s life. This will be another skill in an RA’s toolbox to help keep students safe. That’s invaluable.”
If the General Assembly approves the bill, it will be presented to the Vice President of Student Affairs, Jenny Hall-Jones, who will share it with all relevant stakeholders for examination.
Lawson feels that without the bill, student safety would be at increased risk and the University’s commitment to safety would be undermined.
“This initiative promotes education and awareness around drug use and prevention, which makes for a safer and more informed campus community,” Lawson said.
