Naloxone kits are available at the Wellness Centre
UFV is providing free take-home naloxone (THN) kits to students, faculty, and staff. Naloxone is an easy-to-use, safe, and effective medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
You will not get in trouble for carrying and using naloxone, and the Good Samaritan Act protects anyone who calls 9-1-1 and intervenes in an overdose with a THN kit.
How to use a Naloxone kit
You can take a 15-minute online training course on your phone or desktop to learn how to use the THN kit.
Learn how to use the Naloxone kit
How to pick up your kit
To pick up your kit, you will need to show proof of your completed online training (a printed certificate or screenshot from a mobile device).
Pick-up dates & times
Please email studentwellness@ufv.ca to arrange to pick up a naloxone kit at either the Abbotsford or Chilliwack CEP campus.
How to store your Naloxone kit
You should store your THN kit in a dark and dry place and avoid keeping it in your vehicle.
What are opioids?
Opioids are substances used for pain relief, and the opioid crisis refers to the dramatic increase in opioid overdose deaths in BC. Opioids like heroin and morphine come from the opium plant, while others such as fentanyl are synthetic. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. The main concern with opioids is that they slow breathing, and too much of an opioid can cause breathing to stop, leading to brain damage or death.
How does Naloxone help?
Naloxone is an easy-to-use, safe, and effective medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It attaches to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking opioids for 30-60 minutes and reversing the respiratory depression that would otherwise lead to death from an overdose. Naloxone only works on opioid receptors and cannot counter the effects of other drugs such as benzodiazepines, alcohol, or stimulants.
Naloxone is safe, and the most common side effect is opioid withdrawal. It cannot make you high, and it is not possible to overdose on naloxone.
Why does UFV offer free Naloxone kits?
The University of the Fraser Valley is providing free THN kits because opioids, including fentanyl, are available in the Fraser Valley, and there is a potential for an opioid overdose even in those who do not knowingly use opioids. THN kits are provided to UFV faculty, students, and staff free of charge through the BC Centre for Disease Control.