Naloxone Access
Swoop In: Naloxone Access
Starting October 29, 2024, students, staff and faculty can pick up free Narcan at five distribution sites across three of our UT Tyler campuses. There will be three distribution sites on UT Tyler's Main Academic Campus, one on our Longview campus, and one on our Palestine campus.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses and the effects of accidental fentanyl poisoning. Narcan is the nasal spray form of the medicine Naloxone.
Those in the UT Tyler community who wish to pick up free Narcan can do so with no questions asked! Okay, technically, you will have to answer one question! You must self-report if you are a student, staff or faculty member, but you do not have to show an ID. UT Tyler will not collect any identifiable information, such as name or ID Number.
We want the distribution sites to be stigma-free, judgment-free and easy!
Pick Up Limit: 3
Each semester students from the School of Nursing and Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy will present ongoing education regarding Narcan use, signs and symptoms to watch out for before administering Narcan, the opioid epidemic and accidental fentanyl poisoning.
Narcan Distribution Sites
UT Tyler Main Academic Campus:
1. Muntz Library Front Desk
2. University Center Welcome Desk
3. W.T. Brookshire Hall, School of Pharmacy Student Affairs Office (WTB 120)
Longview University Center Campus:
1. Administrative area, Room 104 (on the first floor, close to the entrance of the building)
Palestine Campus:
1. Room # TBA
FAQ's:
1. Can I just throw Narcan away once it expires? Yes! Narcan is not a controlled substance, so no special disposal is necessary.
2. How long does Narcan last? The FDA/CDC just extended the expiry dates of Narcan for two additional years. So, if your Narcan says it's expiring in October 2025, add two more years to that date, which makes it expiring in October 2027!
3. Will it harm someone if I give Narcan to them and they aren't having an opioid overdose? No! Narcan only works on the opioid receptors of the brain, so nothing will happen if you give someone Narcan and they are having an allergic reaction, for example.
4. Can I get in trouble for giving someone Narcan if I genuinely believed they were having an opioid overdose? No! Texas has what is called a "Good Samaritan" law, which means that if you are acting in good faith, trying to help someone, you cannot get in trouble for trying to assist.
Governor Abbott has officially proclaimed October as "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month."
Texas's "One Pill Kills" educational awareness initiative helps us understand the dangers of fentanyl in reducing the threat it poses to you and your loved ones. Check out the article.
A newly released video, aimed specifically at college students, was posted to YouTube.
Senate Bill 867 allows the distribution of opioid antagonists, including life-saving NARCAN, to Texas colleges and universities to prevent opioid poisonings. View the bill.